New Study Highlights Enrollment Disparities in Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Trials Using NCCR Data

A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) examines the factors contributing to enrollment discrepancies in clinical trials run by the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Researchers analyzed data linkages between the National Childhood Cancer Registry (NCCR) and COG trial data in order to identify which populations of children with cancer may be underrepresented in COG trials.

Identifying the Factors Contributing to COG Enrollment Discrepancies

The study determined that the factors that most significantly contributed to enrollment discrepancies included age, sex, and cancer type. Younger children were more likely to be enrolled than teenagers. Additionally, children with leukemia, neuroblastoma, and renal tumors had higher enrollment rates, while those with brain tumors (CNS neoplasms), lymphomas, and germ cell tumors had much lower rates (although this could be due to COG not offering trials for certain cancer types during the time-frame in which this study’s data were collected).

NCCR Data Instrumental to Study

In an interview with a Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) representative, study author Dr. Philip Lupo cited the value of NCCR data linkages in conducting the research. According to Dr. Lupo, NCCR data were vital for acquiring population-based estimates of cancer incidence. Without these data, it would be difficult for researchers to identify which groups of children might be missing out on key discoveries. Dr. Lupo added that NCCR data helped provide a complete understanding of characteristics among children diagnosed with cancer, which could support researchers’ efforts to include all children in future trials.

Improving Treatments and Outcomes for All Children with Cancer

The study highlights the importance of improving equity in clinical trial access. It suggests that linking cancer registry data with clinical trial data can help identify gaps and guide efforts to include more diverse populations. This could lead to better treatments and outcomes for all children with cancer.