Indicator definition
The ratio of cancer patients aged 18 years or younger who were newly enrolled in Phase 1 to 4 clinical trials (e.g., cancer-related therapeutic clinical trials or clinical research studies) in 2014 to the total number of cancer patients aged 18 years or younger who were newly referred to children’s cancer treatment centres in 2014. Results are reported by province and year.
Measured since
The 2010 Cancer System Performance Report.
Update frequency
Every two years (as of the 2016 Cancer System Performance Report)
Why measure this?
Cancers affecting children, adolescents and young adults are often different from cancers affecting adults. Non-epithelial-type cancers, such as leukemias and lymphomas, mainly affect children, whereas epithelial-type cancers account for the majority of adult cancers. Cancers occurring in adolescents and young adults are a mix of the two types.1 Pediatric clinical trials are crucial to identifying how these cancers develop and what causes them. Much improvement in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of childhood cancers is attributable to clinical trial research. Comparing pediatric clinical trial participation across the country may provide opportunities for action to enable more trial participation, which could improve cancer outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer.
What are the key findings?
- In the 2014 enrolment year, the ratio of pediatric patients enrolled in clinical trials to newly registered cancer centre patients ranged from 0.191 in British Columbia to 0.571 in Manitoba (Figure 6.5).
- Pediatric clinical trial participation has increased in six of the eight reporting provinces from 2011 to 2014 (data not shown).
References
- De P, Ellison LF, Barr RD, Semenciw R, Marrett LD, Weir HK, et al. Canadian adolescents and young adults with cancer: opportunity to improve coordination and level of care. CMAJ. 2011 Feb 22;183(3):E187-94.
