Cancer Clinical Trials in Rural Eastern Shore Maryland

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Cancer Clinical Trials in Rural Eastern Shore
Maryland

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• Mary S. De Shields, MD

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Why Community Based Trials?

• To improve outcomes in cancer detection,
  treatment and symptom management
• Patients receive high quality, state of the art
  care
• Physicians gain access to latest trends of care
  and access to newer treatments
• Physicians who participate in clinical trials
  render better care to patients
• 97 of participants report a positive experience
  with clinical trials

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Why Community Based Trials

• Most patients with cancer unable to travel
  distance to academic centers
• Many on the Shore view the Bay Bridge as a major
  barrier to travel
• Physicians do not lose contact with their
  patients
• Patients are not removed from their local support
  systems

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Drawbacks

• Lack of financial support/reimbursement
• Lack of administrative support and data
  management even with CCOP
• Lack of infrastructure
• Lack of physician interest
• Public/patient perception of clinical trials

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SHS Initiatives

• Fund position for on-site research nurse/ data
  manager
• Focus on raising community awareness and
  education about clinical trials
• Increase physician awareness and comfort
• Promote clinical trials as a treatment option
• Create infrastructure

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Outcomes

• Received support from the following sources
• The Maryland Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen
  Breast Cancer Foundation from 2001-2006 for
  research nurse/data manager
• The Maryland Statewide Health Network for
  physician and community outreach coordinator
• Member of ECOG through Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Member of Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU)
• IRB willing to expedite review of trials

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Outcomes

• Clinical trials for all major sites of cancer
  opened within one year
• Two cancer prevention trials opened with
  excellent accrual
• Cumulative patient enrollment increased from zero
  in 2000 to over 60. 12 breast cancer patients
  enrolled within the last 12 weeks
• Successful completed audits from CTSU, ECOG, and
  The Maryland Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen
  Foundation without major deficiencies

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Achievements

• Awarded the U.S. Department of Health and Human
  Services Best Practice Award for Increasing
  Availability of Community-based Cancer Clinical
  Trials in Rural Eastern Shore Maryland
• August 2004

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Key Resources

• For a successful community program
• Funding Source(s)
• Physician champion to serve as PI
• Dedicated (full-time) clinical trials research
  nurse, on-site
• Academic Partnership
• Part-time resources
• Professional and Consumer Educator
• Data manager

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Goals

• Explore alternative sources of funding
• Increase the number of trials available and
  accrual
• Continue community initiatives to inform
  providers and potential patients of importance of
  clinical research
• Increase minority trust in trials and accrual