V44: Location, Location, Location- clinical Trial Location Does Not Influence the Diversity of Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trials

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

5:52 PM – 5:55 PM CST

Location: Zoom Meeting

Virtual Poster Presenter(s)

Kelly M. Herremans, MD

Resident Physician
University of Florida, United States

Disclosure: Disclosure information not submitted.

Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships:

Kelly M. Herremans, MD: Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Racial and ethnic minorities as well as female patients are notably underrepresented in pancreatic cancer clinical trials. However, postulated reasons for these disparities are numerous. Though underlying barriers are likely multifaceted and complex, we sought to determine how location of pancreatic cancer clinical trials impacts diversity and inclusion.

Methods: A database analysis was performed using Clinicaltrials.gov, which included completed pancreatic cancer clinical trials performed within a single NIH-designated health service area (HSA). NIH and CDC State Cancer Profiles (statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov) were utilized to determine HSA-specific data on pancreatic cancer incidence by race and gender. Location-specific enrollment fractions were obtained by comparing the proportion of each clinical trial subgroup to the pancreatic cancer incidence of each HSA subgroup. Comparative analysis was performed using a non-parametric Mann Whitney test.

Results: Eighty-eight pancreatic cancer clinical trials from 2008-2020 were included. Black patients enrolled in clinical trials were found to profoundly underrepresent the surrounding HSA incidence of pancreatic cancer when compared to White patients (median EF 0.3 vs. 1.2, p < 0.0001). Further, female patients notably underrepresent the surrounding HSAs when compared to male patients with pancreatic cancer (median EF 0.9 vs. 1.1, p< 0.0001). When comparing clinical trials performed at centers with NCI designation to those without NCI designation, there were no differences in the representation of Black (p=0.504), White (p=0.414), female (p=0.563) or male (p=0.741) patients with pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions:

Compared to the incidence of pancreatic cancer in locations surrounding clinical trials, Black and female patients remain underrepresented in pancreatic cancer clinical trials. Regardless of clinical trial location, significant racial and gender disparities continue to exist, further potentiating inequities in pancreatic cancer treatment and clinical outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participant will be able to describe the racial, ethnic and gender disparities present in pancreatic cancer.
Upon completion, participant will be able to define health service areas (SEER).
Upon completion, participant will be able to understand how to compare clinical trial diversity to the diversity of health service areas.