Case-linked analysis of clinical trial enrollment among adolescents and young adults at a National Cancer Institute-Designated comprehensive cancer center

Abstract

BACKGROUND Poor accrual to cancer clinical trials may contribute to the lower improvement in survival observed for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (those aged 15-39 years) with cancer. This has been difficult to quantify without reliable mechanisms to link incident cases with study enrollments. Using unique resources available at their National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, the authors compared the percentage of AYAs, children, and older adults enrolled onto cancer clinical trials and determined predictors of enrollment. METHODS Patients diagnosed with cancer from January 2008 through December 2012 at 1 pediatric and 2 adult University of Southern California hospitals were identified through the California Cancer Registry and individually linked to institutional trial enrollment databases. The availability of clinical trials was assessed. RESULTS Across the center, the enrollment percentage for AYAs (6%) was equal to that of older adults (6%), but was less than that for children (22%) (P