Advancing Equity in Cancer Research: Opportunities for Sponsors, Institutions, and Investigators

Abstract

Numerous studies have documented patient-level barriers to research participation that are often connected to social determinants of health. As described in this paper, to significantly move the needle toward greater diversity and inclusion in cancer research, it will take a full commitment to integrating an equity lens across the cancer research ecosystem, specifically among sponsors, institutions, and investigators.

Introduction

Lack of intentional commitment and accountability to research equity compromises the rigor of oncology clin­ical trials and their impact on health outcomes and cancer disparities.¹ In the United States and in North Carolina, cancer is the second leading cause of death, and racial and ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes are substantial. Specifically, minoritized racial and ethnic populations have higher cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality com­pared to their White counterparts, yet are grossly under­represented in cancer clinical research and trials, which exacerbates inequities.^1–3 For example, Black men are significantly more likely to get prostate cancer and two times more likely to die from the disease compared to any other race or ethnic group, yet less than 3% participate in clini­cal trials.⁴ Essentially, underrepresented race and ethnic populations, who carry the greatest burden of cancer, do not get equitable opportunities to participate in potentially life-saving or life-enhancing clinical research and trials, and in general do not equitably benefit from current therapies and interventions available across the cancer continuum.^1,2,5

Approximately 70% of all clinical research studies funded by the federal government never meet their diversity recruitment and retention goals; despite data showing that 80% of patients with cancer would consider participating in a clinical trial, less than 5% do so,^1,5,6 and rates are especially low among minoritized and marginalized popu­lations. Reasons for low participation are multifaceted and include structural, systemic, attitudinal, and clinical barriers.^4,5,7 Specifically, patients are frequently not asked to enroll, which may be due to unconscious bias and stereo­types held by research teams and providers regarding the suitability or willingness of patients from underrepresented groups to participate, and too often research teams do not adequately focus on diversity in recruitment plans and goals. Further, numerous studies have documented patient-level barriers such as mistrust in research stemming from well-documented injustices and factors connected to social determinants of health, including lack of insurance, trans­portation, language and cultural barriers, poverty, and low health literacy.^8,9

Although attention to these longstanding issues is impor­tant, ongoing efforts are required to move from describing the problem to identifying culturally relevant, patient- and community-informed interventions that can be replicated and scaled to increase access to cancer research.^8,10 However, there has been historically slow uptake of equity-driven commitment and accountability to the application of rigorous practices, processes, and policies in the recruit­ment and retention of diverse research participants. To sig­nificantly move the needle, it will take a full commitment to integrating an equity lens across the cancer research eco­system, specifically among sponsors, research institutions, and investigators.⁸

The Perils of Inadequate Representation in Cancer Research

Equitable representation in cancer clinical trials advances the development of interventions and therapeutics that are relevant to diverse patient populations. However, an analysis of manuscripts published in a national peer-reviewed jour­nal found a substantial number of studies lacked adequate inclusion of underrepresented race and ethnic groups.¹¹ The results of these studies can add to the harms of racism in research and further exacerbate gaps in health dispari­ties and equity in cancer health outcomes. For example, in a prostate cancer study examining the effects of apalutamide plus abiraterone and prednisone on progression-free and overall survival for patients with metastatic prostate cancer with a sample of 492 participants (365 White men [74%], 19 Black men [4%], and 69 Other [16%]) found some improve­ments in progression-free survival, but no improvement in overall survival. Essentially, the combination of apalutamide and abiraterone lacked superiority over abiraterone alone.¹² Despite the large sample size, and the racial dispari­ties in prostate cancer where Black men carry the greatest burden in both incidence and mortality, no analyses were conducted by race due to inadequate representation. Recent studies have underscored the significance of having diverse representation in the studies, noting racial differences that would not be observed without adding a racial equity lens to their research questions and recruitment strategies that allow for race and ethnic analyses.^13–16 For example, a recent study explored the effects of a novel combination of hormonal therapies, Apalutamide and Abiraterone plus prednisone in patients with castrate-resistant prostate can­cer and hypothesized that Black men may benefit more than White men.¹³ Ninety-three participants (43 Black men [46%], 50 White men [54%]) were enrolled. Study authors found that Black men doubled the median progression-free survival at 15 months versus 30 months for White men, and had less than half 24-month mortality at 14% versus 33% of White participants.¹³ Ensuring equity in cancer research furthers our understanding and ability to address the mech­anisms and underlying factors at the societal, institutional, individual, and ancestral levels that contribute to health out­comes and disparities.

Applying an Equity Lens and Framework

Understanding the context of inequities in research par­ticipation requires an equity framework that arms those in the research environment and ecosystem with the questions that both define the problem and seek actionable solutions with a focus on equity, anti-bias, and anti-racism.^8,17 The 5Ws framework provides guidance for sponsors, insti­tutions, and investigators to apply a racial equity lens to ask critical “who, what, where, when, and why” questions to uncover opportunities for equitable practices and poli­cies in research. This framework centers patients, particu­larly those from marginalized and minoritized groups. 5Ws requires asking deeper questions to help find solutions that ensure programs, services, and policies are designed and implemented from an equity lens, leading to advances in equitable access to research participation and better inter­ventions and therapies.¹⁷

“I wanted to learn about clinical trials when I was diagnosed with cancer, but my provider never mentioned it. I asked him and others on the team about research, and he said there were no studies here, and I have two options, surgery or radi­ation. I was still interested so a local community organization I belong to, the Durham County Department of Public Health Men’s Health Council, connected me to a national organiza­tion for Black men with prostate cancer called PHEN. They helped me find two trials, but they were only available in another state. I was glad to learn and know about the trials, and may have considered participating in it, or other studies, if the place I was getting my care spoke to me about the pos­sibility of research.”

— Mr. Bradley Long, an African American Patient with Prostate Cancer

Mr. Long was eager to learn about research studies, spe­cifically asking the provider and his team about potential opportunities. His experience highlights some key opportu­nities with implications for sponsors, institutions, and inves­tigators to advance equitable access to cancer clinical trials.

Sponsors/Funders

Applying the 5Ws framework, trial sponsors and local/ national research-funding agencies can begin looking at their portfolios and ask: Who are we funding? Who are we defining as experts? Who are we consulting to ensure we are developing and implementing our research and fund­ing programs with an equity-driven lens? What groups are we missing? How can we do things differently to urgently advance cancer equity? Funding is needed to support col­laborations between community-based organizations/ nonprofits and academic health centers, community clin­ics, and other entities to heighten access to oncology clini­cal research. With these types of collaborations, Bradley would have been able to identify clinical trials that worked for him and discuss them openly with his provider and care team. Moreover, he may have become aware of other clinical research studies available at his institution, or in the vicinity. Serving as research partners, national organizations like the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) and the Durham County Department of Public Health Men’s Health Council are incredible leaders in engaging minoritized and marginal­ized populations in meaningful conversations about clinical research and trials participation. These types of collabora­tions can address commonly cited barriers to recruitment and retention of minoritized populations, such as admin­istrative burdens and time constraints in large academic health centers and community clinics.¹⁸

Sponsors/funders can contribute to normalizing and integrating research participation by promoting and sup­porting collaborations with national and local community health worker and public health education programs, as well as mobile outreach and screening programs.^19,20 These organizations are ideal partners because of their innovative programming in urban, rural, and minoritized communities where they are well trusted. Supporting the development and integration of research in these areas broadens the platform for mass campaigns, outreach, and coordination to support research education and participation in underserved and minoritized communities. Many of these organizations were instrumental in increasing access to COVID-19 clinical trials, and once the pandemic became less of a threat the fund­ing for these organizations quickly disappeared. Addressing cancer, and particularly cancer disparities, is critical and should be met by local and national funders with the same urgency as COVID-19.²¹

Sponsors and funders are in a unique position to promote and advocate for the decentralization of cancer clinical trials by supporting robust collaborations and capacity-building studies with clear metrics to assess lessons learned and identify best practices.⁸ Funding programs can priori­tize engaging primary care providers, rural and urban can­cer centers, local community pharmacies, clinics, patients, caregivers, and survivors by promoting the opportunity to partner with other entities that can make processes more efficient and accessible.^1,5

On a state level, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Cancer Control Branch develops a can­cer control plan every five years with a descriptive report of the state of cancer by county.³ The branch also con­venes academic health centers, National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, clinics, and numerous nonprofit community organizations and partners from across the state to promote collaborations and support education, outreach, and advocacy efforts. State-level funding in North Carolina could be used to foster these partnerships and support other initiatives, such as culturally sensitive education programs, the increased use of community health workers in the con­text of research, and outreach and screening programs that integrate the importance of clinical trials and promote equi­table access.^19–21

Institutions and Systems Change for Equity in Cancer Research

Systems—whether small clinical sites or large academic cancer centers—have significant opportunities to promote equity in research by addressing the institutional practices and policies that limit access to research, particularly for underrepresented populations. Applying the 5Ws frame­work, systems can explore where facilitators and barriers to research participation exist, identify key touchpoints, and prioritize actionable equity-driven solutions. Key questions include: Who is benefiting from policies and practices? How does our environment benefit some while further disenfranchising minoritized patients and communities? Who is being invited to participate and who is not? What expertise do we have to incorporate and assess what needs to change to promote equitable access to clinical research and trials?

Fostering a culture of research as an extension of improv­ing health outcomes for patients with cancer is important to the success of recruiting underrepresented populations to participate in studies. Clinics where providers, nurses, and other members of the team do not embrace research as part of their practice can be more challenging environments for recruiting patients, particularly those from underrepre­sented communities.²² Other studies highlight implicit bias and not being invited to participate as a key reason that African American/Black and Latino/x populations are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials.⁷ Despite the lack of African American and Latino/x representation in cancer trials, there are studies that suggest they are inter­ested in participating and in some cases are more likely to participate compared to their White counterparts.^6,23

Training and education programs in clinics, academic and community oncology centers, and across teams within these sites have the potential for significant impact. These groups can benefit from training programs like Just ASK™ Increasing Diversity in Cancer Clinical Research, which is designed to help research teams cast an equity lens on their work; learn strategies to mitigate barriers to research par­ticipation, including implicit bias; and increase diverse rep­resentation in cancer trials.²⁴ This type of training should be incorporated at the institutional, sponsor, and investiga­tor levels to integrate equity into all aspects of the research process and ecosystem.

Lastly, institutional Review Boards (IRB) and Cancer Protocol Committees (CPC) are in a unique position to promote diversity in clinical trial participation. These enti­ties have the opportunity to engage investigators at the key touchpoints of study review, new protocol submissions, con­tinuing renewals, and amendments. IRBs can initiate a refer­ral process by leveraging institutional resources (Clinical and Translational Science Institute [CTSI], Cancer Center Support Grants [CCSG], or community advisory councils) to support and bolster equity in cancer clinical trials and support equitable practices in clinical trial recruitment and retention. Moreover, as CPCs address studies that are not meeting accrual goals, more institutional policies can be implemented to equally address studies that are not meet­ing diversity and retention goals.²⁵

Investigators and the Research Team

Investigators and research team members should inte­grate an equity focus at all steps in the research process, including idea generation, study design, implementation of study protocol, and dissemination of study findings.^8,17 Incorporating perspectives of community partners and diverse patients with equitable compensation for their expertise, teams should apply the 5Ws framework to ensure critical questions are driving equitable opportunities for diverse participation. For example, beyond providing feed­back on the content of advertising and education materials, community partners and patients from minoritized popula­tions can provide expertise and insights across the research spectrum and recommend innovative methods to maximize recruitment and enrollment processes. Clinical research studies have successfully recruited and enrolled African American and Latino/x populations by conducting clinical research in church-based settings and through community-based mobile outreach programs, both trusted environ­ments.^20,26 This requires establishing relationships and building trust by engaging patients, community members, and leaders from minoritized populations as partners in the research. Working with community partners to establish mutual goals, plan recruitment strategies, identify study measures, and provide feedback throughout the course of the research will facilitate diverse representation of study participants and ensure relevance of work to populations disproportionately affected by cancer.

Investigators and research teams should set explicit goals related to recruitment and retention of minoritized groups into the study. These goals should include systematic strategies for identifying and screening potentially eligible patients. Some studies have applied specific strategies to integrating diversity as a daily part of team meetings; apply­ing the 5Ws framework, teams address critically important questions that align with the recruitment and diversity goals of the study. Recruitment goals should be tracked and dis­cussed regularly throughout the study with modifications to current strategies when needed.²⁷

Investigators should examine use and representation of race and ethnicity in their studies to ensure the interpretation and recommendations are appropriate and not biased. Questions to consider include: Does the sample adequately reflect the diversity of the community to ensure equitable representation and generalizability of study findings? Are the research questions or study conclusions making assump­tions based on prior studies that lacked adequate diversity? Does the sample make reference to those carrying the great­est burden of the disease? Are eligibility criteria reviewed regularly to ensure they are not based on unfounded or cut-and-paste criteria, including comorbidities that may dis­proportionately impact underrepresented race and ethnic groups? Likewise, given the lack of diverse representation in the clinical research workforce, does the research team reflect the diversity in the community or catchment area? How can the team tap into resources to ensure a diverse candidate pool when seeking to fill positions?

Integrating Equity: Sponsors, Institutions, and Investigators

Unequal access to cancer research and clinical care has been linked to implicit bias and lack of intentional efforts to apply an equity lens across organizations and teams.^7,8 Advancing cancer health equity across the research ecosystem requires continual training of all constituents involved in cancer care and research. Sponsors/funders, cancer care institutions, and investigator/research teams should engage health equity experts and strategists to sup­port equity-focused planning and implementation to make meaningful gains in inclusive research. Ensuring diversity within the research workforce that reflects the broader community is an ongoing challenge requiring innovative, mutually beneficial efforts and partnerships with organiza­tions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and community colleges. Last, community engage­ment and partnerships to promote inclusive research par­ticipation must deepen engagement beyond reviewing flyers and study materials and expand to informing and guiding funding priorities; identifying and shaping system and orga­nization practices, policies, and culture toward equity; and serving as community colleagues, advisors, and leaders throughout the research process.

This paper is not meant to be exhaustive. There are many opportunities to advance equity in cancer research and outcomes. However, these recommendations highlight the importance of asking equity-leading questions that result in equity-driven solutions. As policy expands to set expec­tations and accountability, we emphasize opportunities and strategies that have the potential to make significant gains toward equitable access to cancer research in North Carolina and nationally.

Disclosure of interests

Nadine J. Barrett, PhD, is the inventor of Duke University’s Just ASK™ Training Program. Leigh Boehmer, PharmD, provides consulting services for EMD Serono and Merck. No further interests were disclosed.