Inequalities in availability of clinical trials for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with cancer in Europe: results from the SIOPE OCEAN project
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: There are pronounced inequalities in outcomes of children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) with cancer across Europe. The OCEAN project aimed at describing the availability of clinical trials for this population, the inequalities between countries, and propose solutions to reduce these disparities. The ClinicalTrials.gov database was searched to identify all European cancer clinical interventional studies including patients <18 years with a start date between 2010 and 2022. The study included 436 cancer-directed trials in 38 European countries. More than half were academic-sponsored (55%), and 49% included exclusively pediatric/AYA patients. Important differences in available trial numbers per country were identified, with more trials observed in Northern and Western Europe as compared to Eastern Europe. There is an urgent need to address differences in clinical trials availability both at European and national levels to advance equity and improve care, research and access to innovation for all pediatric/AYA patients with cancer in Europe. Funding: This work has been performed as part of WP6 on inequalities in cancer research of the 4.UNCAN.eu Coordination and Support Action (#101069496) funded by the European Union and has been supported by Zoé4Life (MO).
Authors: Kerstin K. Rauwolf, Teresa de Rojas, Miguel Martins, Maria Otth, Uta Dirksen, Delphine Heenen, Lejla Kameric, Pamela Kearns, Ruth Ladenstein, Cormac Owens, Caroline Queiroz, Richard Sullivan, Carmelo Rizzari, Gilles Vassal
Institutions: University Children's Hospital Zurich, Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, Ostschweizer Kinderspital, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Birmingham, St Anna Children's Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, European Society for Paediatric Oncology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,930
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W7115701732