Overview
Identifying eligible patients for cancer clinical trials is often a slow and resource-intensive process, limiting how quickly trials enroll participants and may contribute to a lack of diversity among study cohorts. In this study, researchers evaluated the performance of an electronic health record (EHR)-based centralized trial screening service in a prospective multiple myeloma study, focusing on accrual of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic populations.
Between April and December 2024, nearly 288,000 patients were screened across four community oncology sites. Using structured I/E criteria from the EHR (e.g., diagnosis, prior therapies), 178 eligible patients were identified and over 1,200 were given a “watching” status. At data cutoff, 104 pts previously in “watching” were deemed eligible and included in the 178 patients meeting all criteria. Ultimately, 50 patients consented to participate, and 49 began treatment. Notably, 28% of enrolled patients identified as Black or Latinx, mirroring the diversity of the local patient population.
Why this matters
This research demonstrates that a centralized, technology-enabled screening service can make clinical trial enrollment faster and more efficient, particularly in community oncology settings. Importantly, this approach also helped ensure that trial participants reflected the diversity of the broader patient community, supporting more equitable access to cutting-edge cancer treatments and more representative research outcomes.