Health
Clinical trial participation increases chance of survival from cancer
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 11, 2005
Older adolescents and young adults with cancer are less likely to participate in clinical trials -- a variable that may contribute to the fact that they are less likely to survive their disease than either children and older adults, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of Cancer.
Researchers studied data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program regarding those ages 15 to 45 years old with bone and soft-tissue sarcomas to determine why this age group has had fewer mortality gains over the past 25 years than any other age group. They found that lower survival rates correlated with lower participation rates in clinical trials.
Authors suggested that this age group is less likely to be treated at large health centers with trials available. They suggested making these trials more accessible to this demographic.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/04/11/hlbf0411.htm.
