Representation of Asian Americans in clinical cancer trials.

PURPOSE

The objectives of this study are to analyze the accrual of Asian Americans to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported prevention, screening/diagnosis, and treatment trials and to determine if there is proportional ethnic representation.

METHODS

Data were obtained on all participants accrued to ongoing prevention and screening/ diagnosis trials and on all patients accrued to treatment trials from 1994 to mid-1998. In the analysis, the percentage of Asian Americans to the total number of trial participants is calculated. For treatment trials, participants were stratified into five age groups: 0-20 years, 21-44 years, 45-54 years, 55-64 years, and 65 or more years.

RESULTS

Asian Americans represented 4.8% of subjects accrued in screening/diagnosis trials, 1.8 to 2.2% of subjects in treatment trials, and 0.9% of subjects in prevention trials. Comparison of treatment trial age groups revealed that younger Asian Americans participate significantly more in treatment trials than older Asian Americans.

CONCLUSIONS

Asian American accrual in NCI-supported trials is representative of the cancer burden of Asian Americans in the United States. However, Asian Americans 65+ years are underrepresented. Their full participation in cancer trials is justified.