23 May Minorities and Women Underrepresented in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Trials

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Herremans

Kelly Herremans, MD
Lead researcher on the study
Surgical research fellow
University of Florida College of Medicine
Gainesville

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Pancreatic cancer is a deadly malignancy with an estimated 5-year survival rate of only 9%. Significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in pancreatic cancer. Underrepresentation in the clinical trials that determine safety and efficacy may contribute to these disparate outcomes.

MedicalResearch.com: Are there differences in the incidence, presentation, risk factors or genetics in pancreatic cancer?

Response: According to the SEER cancer database, Black Americans have had a 19% higher incidence of pancreatic cancer when compared to other racial groups over the last two decades. Black patients with PC also experience an increased age-adjusted mortality rate (13.3 versus 11.0 per 100,000 population of all other racial/ethnic groups combined).  Additionally, Native American patients have an estimated 5-year survival rate of only 6.7%. These disparities are not entirely accounted for by comorbidities, socioeconomic status and access to high-quality healthcare alone, suggesting that biologic processes may be partially responsible 

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Non-white, Hispanic and female patients are underrepresented in pancreatic cancer clinical trials. Though demographic reporting has improved, this underrepresentation has persisted over time and throughout trial phases and sponsors.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Despite improvements in demographic reporting, minority representation in pancreatic cancer clinical trials remains dismal. Increased effort toward diversification and inclusion in pancreatic cancer clinical trials may reduce healthcare disparities.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: Future research should be targeted toward why patients of minority backgrounds are underrepresented in pancreatic cancer clinical trials. There is a clear problem in representation, so we need to refocus our efforts in finding how clinical trials may be more inclusive. 

Authors have no disclosures. 

Citation:

Dr. Herremans presented data from the study, “Trials and tribulations: Diversity and inclusion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma clinical trials,” Digestive Disease Week abstract 901, on May 23, 2021.

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Last Updated on May 23, 2021 by Marie Benz MD FAAD