Science

Sergio Cifuentes Canaval Shares Key Insights on Clinical Trial Barriers Related to Race and Older Age

Sergio Cifuentes/X

Jun 12, 2025, 15:26

Sergio Cifuentes Canaval Shares Key Insights on Clinical Trial Barriers Related to Race and Older Age

Sergio Cifuentes Canaval, Cancer Research Project Manager at CENEIT México, shared a post on Linkedin:

“The intersection of race and older age continues to amplify disparities in cancer care access, especially in clinical trial enrollment.

A recent scoping review set out to identify the key barriers and facilitators for racialized older adults with cancer to access clinical research opportunities. Based on 76 studies, the review provides a comprehensive view of the real-world challenges and what could help improve inclusion:

Key findings:

Patient barriers:

Limited awareness of clinical trials.

Lack of clinician-patient discussions about trials.

Mistrust related to past abuses and fear of being “guinea pigs.”

Language limitations (English-only materials).

Financial burden (travel/time).

Concerns about side effects and unfamiliarity with randomization.

Negative influence of friends/family with poor trial experiences.

Patient facilitators:

Trust in their clinicians.

Altruistic motivations.

Community engagement (e.g. church/support groups).

Perception of benefit over risks.

Clinician barriers:

Lack of awareness about open trials.

Fear of mistrust from patients.

Time constraints in clinical visits.

Clinician facilitators:

Pre-established, trusting relationships.

Collaboration with community organizations.

Interventions tested included:

Multilingual and culturally tailored educational materials.

Patient navigators for logistical support.

Race-specific recruitment strategies.

Clinician education sessions and decision aids.

While many interventions improved willingness to participate, few reported statistically significant increases in enrollment—highlighting the need for rigorously evaluated, equity-driven strategies.

As we seek to increase diversity in clinical trials, especially among aging populations, this review offers important insights for both policymakers and clinicians committed to equity in cancer care and research. These findings are particularly relevant for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Latin America, where underrepresentation in research remains a persistent challenge and where building trust and community-driven strategies could drive more inclusive and effective cancer innovation.”

Title: Access to Cancer Treatment Clinical Trials for Racialized Adults and Older Adults: An Equity-Focused Rapid Scoping Review

Authors: Vivian Li, Shabbir M.H. Alibhai, Kristen R. Haase, Schroder Sattar, Lorelei Newton, Sapeda S. Muhammad, Brenda Santos, Sanchiv Suresh, Juan Li, Hannah Sattar, Saul Cobbing, Nai-Wen Ku, Sara Durbano, Caroline Mariano, Ivan Steenstra, Jihad A.A. Waked, David E. Dawe, Anthony Carrozzi, Shelly Dixit, Tina Hsu, Patricia Lumanto, Jennifer A.H. Bell, Rouhi Fazelzad, Jacqueline L. Bender, Sabrina T. Wong, Aisha Lofters, Jackie Manthorne, Martine Puts

You can read the Full Article on JCO Oncology Advances

Sergio Cifuentes Canaval Shares Key Insights on Clinical Trial Barriers Related to Race and Older Age