title: Enhancing Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Research Within the National Clinical Trials Network: Rationale, Progress, and Emerging Strategies.
abstract: Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (AYAO, including patients 15-39 years of age) is an emerging discipline in the field of cancer treatment and research. Poorer survival outcomes for this population and characteristic age-related challenges in care have called attention to the need for increased AYAO research. This chapter outlines pressing questions and reviews recent progress in AYAO research within the current organizational structure of the federal clinical trials enterprise, emphasizing how the United States National Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) has created novel opportunities for collaborative AYAO research among the pediatric and adult NCTN groups. Potential strategies for expanding AYAO research, both within the NCTN and with other partners in the federal and advocacy domains are identified.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Maine Children's Cancer Program, Department of Pediatrics, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME.
authors.forename: Aaron R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: dfreyer@chla.usc.edu.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Freyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology; D054547:National Cancer Institute (U.S.); D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010372:Pediatrics; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult