Disparities in participation in cancer clinical trials in the United States : a symptom of a healthcare system in crisis.
Disparities in minorities' representation in cancer clinical trials have been shown only in adult populations, which suggest that the main causes of these disparities relate to health system-based barriers, including issues of poverty (lack of insurance), poor access to trials, and an inadequate number of clinical trials. Initiatives that increase the participation of community physicians in cancer clinical research trials and increase low socioeconomic status patients' access to cancer trials will likely ameliorate this problem.
Colon-Otero
Gerardo
G
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA. gcolonotero@mayo.edu
Smallridge
Robert C
RC
Solberg
Lawrence A
LA
Keith
Thomas D
TD
Woodward
Timothy A
TA
Willis
Floyd B
FB
Dunn
Ajani N
AN
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D054547:National Cancer Institute (U.S.); D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States