Sommer Bazuro, Paola Accalai
The trial for clinical equality campaign was conceived to address the issue of underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic patients in cancer trials. The issue is a longstanding one that is critical to address. In a US database in trials supporting FDA oncology drug approvals from July 2008 to June reported that they make up only 3% of cancer trial patient populations; similarly, Hispanics make up 19% of the US population, yet only 6% of cancer trial patient populations [1,2]. Perhaps more relevant, however, is the disparity between minority ethnic representation in cancer trials and the estimated proportion unfavorable for Black (−11.3%) and Hispanic patients (−7.8%) compared with white (−1.7%) and Asian (+14.1%) patients. A similar pattern emerged regarding cancer mortality [1]. These striking statistics reveal a need to not only address The issue of ethnic underrepresentation appears to be prevalent–and, some might argue, is even more pronounced–in Europe. Data are sparse, however. A 2004 study found that American studies are five times more likely concluding that “European governments should consider the US model for group underrepresentation in UK clinical trials has been recognized for many years [4]. An analysis of 64 studies and an English hospital trust case study a minority ethnic group compared with white patients with cancer (adjusted African–Caribbean ancestry [6]. In Sweden, assessment of representation is limited by personal data regulations and laws that prohibit the collection of frequently exclude ethnic minority patients from clinical cancer trials, often Without a representative population of clinical trial patients, the validity of the ensuing data in the real world is diminished. Underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in clinical trials inevitably leads to a skewed body of evidence: One that is neither relevant nor generalizable to many of the patients that would stand to benefit from it [4,8,9]. Enrollment of patients from diverse ethnic groups is essential to explore the existence of differential risks and benefits the FDA between 2008 and 2013, differences in exposure and/or response could not have been drawn from homogenous trial populations [10]. best (or even only) therapeutic option available to a patient at a certain time [4]. Further, exclusion of people from minority ethnic groups may perpetuate health inequalities, marginalization, and disengagement from healthcare services as well as research [4,9]. Why are we seeing this consistent underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in clinical trials?
