The American Lung Association initiative seeks to address mistrust, reduce disparities, and expand lung cancer trial participation among underrepresented patient populations.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Promoting Clinical Trial Access: The American Lung Association is expanding its Awareness, Trust and Action campaign to increase awareness of clinical trials as viable treatment options and encourage patients to speak with their healthcare providers.
- Addressing Care Disparities: According to the association’s “State of Lung Cancer” report, Black and Hispanic patients experience disparities in early diagnosis and treatment, yet remain historically underrepresented in research cohorts.
- Increasing Diverse Representation: With Hispanic patients making up only approximately 1% of participants in lung cancer clinical trials, health advocates emphasize that equitable representation is essential to understanding how therapies work across all populations.
The American Lung Association (ALA) is expanding its Awareness, Trust and Action educational campaign to elevate awareness of clinical trials, counter misconceptions, and encourage individuals with lung cancer to explore trials with their physicians, according to the organization.
According to the ALA, rapidly advancing research driven by clinical studies has expanded patient access to novel therapies and increased survival rates, yet overall awareness regarding clinical trials as an upfront treatment option remains low.
“Clinical trials provide the most promising way to improve treatment outcomes and continue advancements in lung cancer care and survivorship. Afterall, every available lung cancer treatment started in a clinical trial,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, in a news release. “We’re encouraging people living with lung cancer and their caregivers to speak with their healthcare provider about all of their treatment options and whether a clinical trial might be right for them.”
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Research
The campaign highlights persistent inequities in lung cancer outcomes and trial enrollment, according to findings in the ALA “State of Lung Cancer” report. The report noted that Black individuals diagnosed with lung cancer are less likely to receive an early diagnosis and less likely to survive five years compared with White individuals. Similarly, Hispanic and Latino individuals are less likely to be diagnosed early and are more likely to go without treatment entirely, the organization reported.
Although Black, Hispanic, and Latino populations represent a substantial portion of the US population, historical enrollment in lung cancer clinical trials has not mirrored these demographics, raising concerns regarding the generalizability of clinical findings, according to the ALA.
To address these barriers, this year’s initiative features physician voices and health equity advocates Italo M Brown, MD, MPH, and Leslie Gonzalez, DO, MS, who are partnering with the ALA to address mistrust and advocate for inclusive trial enrollment.
“Every lung cancer treatment we have today exists because someone chose to participate in a clinical trial,” said Dr Leslie Gonzalez, DO, MS, a physician and health equity advocate, in a news release. “Clinical trials are not just a last resort; they may be part of your treatment options. Only about 1% of people in lung cancer clinical trials identify as Hispanic. 1%. That matters because if we aren’t represented in research, we lose opportunities to know how treatments work for us. We need a seat at the table, too.”
The Clinical Role of Trials
According to the ALA, clinical trials serve as closely monitored studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of new medical approaches, including strategies to prevent, screen for, diagnose, or treat disease. The organization stated that trial participants receive high-quality cancer care, and participating in a trial can represent the most clinically appropriate option for certain patients while also informing future therapeutic developments.
“Every person who participates in a clinical trial helps move research forward and brings us one step closer to better outcomes for all communities affected by lung cancer,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association.
