Age disparity between a cancer population and participants in clinical trials submitted as a new drug application of anticancer drugs in Japan.

BACKGROUND

Underrepresentation of older patients in cancer clinical trials has been reported previously.

METHODS

To evaluate disparities in age between actual cancer patients and those enrolled in clinical trials, the authors examined all the review reports of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Tokyo, Japan, and summaries of data submitted by applicants for the approval of new cancer drugs and that of a partial change in approved cancer drugs.

RESULTS

Information regarding 68 clinical trials was available on the Internet. The median age of trial participants ranged from 33 years to 73 years and was older than 65 years in 13 trials, whereas the estimated median age of patients with all cancers was 69 years, and 64% of these individuals were age > or =65 years. The median age of trial participants was found to be lower than that of the patient population in 60 trials. The median difference in age between the 2 groups was 7 years (range, -16 to +33). With regard to molecular-targeting agents (16 trials) and hormonal agents (10 trials), trial participants were younger than the patient population in 25 of the 26 trials, with a median difference of 6 years (range, -9.5 to +20). The difference was larger for molecular-targeting agents (median, 9.5 years; range, birth-20 years) compared with hormonal agents (median, 2 years; range, -9.5 to +15).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study show that participants in cancer clinical trials are younger than the actual Japanese cancer patient population.