Overcoming Barriers for Latinos on Cancer Clinical Trials

Abstract

Hispanics are greatly underrepresented in the large cancer and genomic databases, and by placing all Latinos into one category, these datasets do not capture the variation in cancer determinants and outcomes that exist among Latino subgroups. Part of the solution is to include more Latinos in research, which requires improving upon the historically low Latino recruitment into cancer clinical trials. Cancer clinical trials must reflect the subpopulation that is being studied in order to capture differences among ethnic groups and to make inferences that are generalizable. There are many challenges involved in enrolling patients into clinical trials and additional barriers that must be overcome to recruit a representative number of Latinos. Recruitment programs from both the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio are excellent models of program designs that enhance Hispanic accrual and address underrepresentation in clinical trials. Recommended steps to improve accrual into clinical trials are to educate physicians to better promote enrollment; build awareness among Hispanics about the role of clinical trials in improving cancer care; enhance care navigation for treatment planning including matching the right patient with the right study; develop language- and culture-appropriate educational materials; and share lessons learned among centers and investigators.