Despite the need for clinical trials in order to advance cancer research and treatment, a new survey has revealed that just four in 10 Americans have a positive impression of them, and only one-third of Americans say that they would enroll in one.
The survey was commissioned by New York City's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and raises concerns due to the fact that almost every advance in cancer research originated from a clinical trial evaluation. Even more concerning is the fact that only around four percent of cancer patients in the U.S. enroll in clinical trials each year.
"When it comes to advancing cancer care, clinical research is the rocket fuel for better treatments, more accurate diagnoses and, ultimately, cures," said Jose Baselga, chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
"If this trend of low enrollment continues, we will face a crisis in cancer research and discovery," he added. "Further education is the key to participation and progress."
The survey included over 1,500 adults between the ages of 18 and 69 and revealed that more than half of those questioned were concerned about the side effects and safety of clinical trials, whereas approximately half were concerned about insurance coverage and costs and the inconvenience of trial locations.
An additional one-third of those surveyed claimed to be skeptical of unproven treatments and suggested that clinical trials would make them feel like a guinea pig.
Interestingly, after reading information on clinical trials, the participants with a positive impression of them increased from 40 percent to 60 percent.
"While concerns regarding clinical trials are understandable, it is critical that the cancer community address common myths and misunderstandings around issues like effectiveness, safety, use of placebo, and at which point in treatment a trial should be considered," said Paul Sabbatini, deputy physician-in-chief for clinical research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "For example, the vast majority of clinical trials do not involve a placebo."
The study also surveyed nearly 600 doctors who have discussed clinical trials with patients and revealed that most of them only considered clinical trials later on in treatment, with just 32 percent of them claiming to discuss them with patients during the early stages of treatment.
"Failing to consider clinical trials at every stage of cancer diagnosis and treatment can represent a significant missed opportunity, primarily for patients, as well as for doctors and researchers trying to develop better therapies," Sabbatini said.
"It's critical that we spread the word: Clinical trials offer our best thinking toward finding better ways to prevent, treat and cure cancer, and there are options for patients and their families to consider early on in treatment," he added.
