Breast cancer clinical trial participation among diverse patients at a comprehensive cancer center

• Published in: NPJ breast cancer 2024-08, Vol.10 (1), p.70-5, Article 70
• Main Authors: Podany, Emily L., Bulsara, Shaun, Sanchez, Katherine, Otte, Kristen, Ellis, Matthew J., Kinik, Maryam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/4028/67/1347; 692/700/478; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Breast cancer; Cancer Research; Cell Biology; Clinical trials; Human Genetics; Oncology
• ISSN: 2374-4677; 2374-4677
• DOI: 10.1038/s41523-024-00672-0

This study was designed to determine the enrollment patterns in breast cancer clinical trials (CCTs) of patients with diverse backgrounds in an equal access setting and to evaluate the factors contributing to low rates of clinical trial accrual in patients of low socioeconomic status (SES). We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of new patients seen at the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center dating from 5/2015 to 9/2021, which included 3043 patients screened for breast CCTs. We compared the rate of CCT availability, eligibility, and enrollment between two patient populations: Smith Clinic, where most patients are of low SES and uninsured, and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center (BSLMC) with mostly predominantly insured, higher income patients. We performed logistic regression to evaluate whether differences in age, clinic, race, trial type, and primary language may be underlying the differences in CCT enrollment. More patients were eligible for CCTs at Smith Clinic (53.7% vs 44.7%, p