SynthesisBMC cancer2025
Racial, ethnic, sex, and age representation in clinical trials of radiopharmaceutical tumor therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Identifying caregiver-reported modifiable barriers to pediatric oncology clinical trial enrollment and participation.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundRadiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) is an emerging precision oncology approach. However, disparities in racial, ethnic, gender, and age representation in RPT cancer clinical trials may limit trial generalizability and equity. This study aims to quantify demographic disparities in RPT cancer clinical trials compared to US population data and examine trends and trial characteristics associated with these disparities.
methodsSystematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science (via MEDLINE), and ClinicalTrials.gov were conducted through November 2024. Population-based cancer data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) databases. All RPT clinical trials reporting age, race, ethnicity, or gender data and recruiting entirely in the US were included. Two reviewers independently extracted trial characteristics and demographic data. Enrollment incidence ratios (EIRs; < 1 indicates underrepresentation, > 1 indicates overrepresentation) were calculated for race, ethnicity, and gender, while median-age ratios (MRs; < 1 indicates younger trial participants compared to disease median diagnosis age) were used for age. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed to analyze disparities and trends over time.
resultsAmong 116 trials (5317 patients), reporting rates were 36.21% for race, 22.41% for ethnicity, 98.04% for gender, and 95.69% for median age. White participants were overrepresented (EIR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07), while Black (EIR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.22-0.47), Asian/Pacific Islander (EIR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35-0.85), and Hispanic participants (EIR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.24-0.51) were underrepresented. Female participants were also underrepresented (EIR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.78-0.88). Trial participants had a lower median age compared to the SEER-reported median age at cancer diagnosis (MR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.83-0.89). Meta-regression demonstrated modest improvements in gender, age, and racial/ethnic inclusion over time, particularly for Black and Hispanic participants, though disparities persist. Notably, industry-sponsored trials showed greater underrepresentation of Asian/Pacific Islander participants, and Hispanic inclusion was lower in trials studying cancers with higher 5-year survival rates and in two-arm trials compared to single-arm designs.
conclusionsSignificant demographic disparities persist in RPT trials, limiting the generalizability of findings. Inclusive trial designs, community engagement, and diversity mandates are essential to addressing these gaps and ensuring equitable access to RPT benefits.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.