Summary
Starting in 2023, the FDA will mandate drug sponsors to establish strategies for enhancing diversity among racial/ethnic groups in clinical trials. While minoritized patients are less likely to participate in cancer treatment trials, it remains uncertain whether social determinants of health (SDOH) underlie these inequities.
This research uncovers SDOH factors that play a role in the disparate participation of patients from different racial/ethnic backgrounds in clinical trials involving 22 types of solid and blood cancers.
Why this matters
SDOH factors, including measures of structural racism such as residential segregation, significantly contribute to the racial/ethnic inequities observed in cancer trial participation rates. The findings from this study highlight the importance of targeted interventions that address the root causes to promote greater diversity among racial/ethnic groups in cancer trials.