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Review
. 2019 Sep 6;21(9):1100-1117.
doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noz104.

Barriers to accrual and enrollment in brain tumor trials

Eudocia Q Lee  1   2 , Ugonma N Chukwueke  1   2 , Shawn L Hervey-Jumper  3 , John F de Groot  4 , Jose Pablo Leone  1   2 , Terri S Armstrong  5 , Susan M Chang  3 , David Arons  6 , Kathy Oliver  7 , Kay Verble  8 , Al Musella  9 , Nicole Willmarth  10 , Brian M Alexander  11 , Amanda Bates  6 , Lisa Doherty  6 , Evanthia Galanis  12 , Sarah Gaffey  1 , Thomas Halkin  1 , Bret E Friday  13 , Maryam Fouladi  14 , Nancy U Lin  1 , David Macdonald  15 , Minesh P Mehta  16 , Marta Penas-Prado  5 , Michael A Vogelbaum  17 , Solmaz Sahebjam  17 , David Sandak  18 , Martin van den Bent  19 , Michael Weller  20 , David A Reardon  1 , Patrick Y Wen  1
Affiliations
Review

Barriers to accrual and enrollment in brain tumor trials

Eudocia Q Lee et al. Neuro Oncol. .

Abstract

Many factors contribute to the poor survival of malignant brain tumor patients, some of which are not easily remedied. However, one contributor to the lack of progress that may be modifiable is poor clinical trial accrual. Surveys of brain tumor patients and neuro-oncology providers suggest that clinicians do a poor job of discussing clinical trials with patients and referring patients for clinical trials. Yet, data from the Cancer Action Network of the American Cancer Society suggest that most eligible oncology patients asked to enroll on a clinical trial will agree to do so. To this end, the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) in collaboration with the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) Working Group, patient advocacy groups, clinical trial cooperative groups, including the Adult Brain Tumor Consortium (ABTC), and other partners are working together with the intent to double clinical trial accrual over the next 5 years. Here we describe the factors contributing to poor clinical trial accrual in neuro-oncology and offer possible solutions.

Keywords: brain tumors; clinical trial accrual; neuro-oncology.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Potential barriers to clinical trial accrual.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Recommended management algorithm for newly diagnosed primary brain tumor patients and potential pitfalls, particularly for underrepresented minority populations. HGG = high-grade glioma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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