Proceedings of a workshop: bridging the gap in care and addressing participation in clinical trials.

Abstract

The purpose of this workshop was to examine possible strategies for increasing participation by adolescent and young adult cancer patients in clinical trials. Three key established issues set the framework for this discussion: 1) In the United States, individuals in the 15-40 age group are less likely than either children or older adults to be referred to a comprehensive cancer center. 2) Enrollment in therapeutic clinical trials is unacceptably low among adolescent and young adult patients everywhere this has been studied, including United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. 3) Cancers that occur in patients in this age group with particular frequency (notably malignant lymphomas and bone tumors) have relatively long intervals from symptom onset to diagnosis (POG 9082). This may reflect both distinct biologic features of these diseases and a real gap in health care.