Building a statewide clinical trials network for cancer care in West Virginia.
In the United States, mortality rates have been declining for certain tumors, For the majority of advanced stage cancer types, cure is unattainable but treatment is still evolving. Advances in the treatment of cancer can be achieved by enrolling patients in cancer clinical trials. Presently, less than 3% of adult cancer patients participate on clinical trials in the United States. Providing cancer care and access to clinical trials are a challenge in a rural state, with a dispersed population base, such as West Virginia. Building upon recognition of barriers to clinical trials awareness and access, oncology leaders in the state are in the formative stages of developing a statewide cancer clinical trials network. Realization of this network will have an enormous impact on cancer care in our state and perhaps can serve as a model for other community and physician teams for other diseases.
Abraham
Jame
J
Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Keresztury
James
J
Azar
John
J
Monga
Manish
M
Bowers
Timothy
T
Jones
Mathew Page
MP
Tirona
Maria Tria
MT
Pollock
Jondavid
J
Coonley
Craig
C
Jubelirer
Steven
S
Frame
James
J
Fogg
Patti
P
Getto
Molly
M
Filburn
Shannon
S
Naim
John
J
Lucas
Dan
D
Petros
William
W
Hall
Sharon
S
Remick
Scot C
SC
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D014903:West Virginia