Expert Says the More Black Participants Needed in Cancer Clinical Trials!
The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s largest gathering for clinical cancer research. This year’s summit, which concluded Tuesday, was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the online format, more than 2,500 scientific abstracts were presented. They included many advances in cancer research and technology. But the overriding theme this year was not as much about the science as it was about people who are being treated for cancer. “Together, let’s confront and address complex forces and systems that have created disparities in cancer care, treatment, and research,” said Dr. Lori J. Pierce, ASCO president, in a statement. There was a heightened focus this year on underserved cancer communities, specifically Black and Latino people, as well as teens and young adults. Black participants in clinical trials Despite making up 13 percent of the U.S. population, only 5 percent of Black people with cancer are enrolled in ...