Dr. Goel on the Need for Diverse Representation in Clinical Trials

Sanjay Goel, MD, MS, director of Phase I / Investigational Therapeutics, medical oncologist, professor of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Section of Solid Tumor, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, discusses the need for diverse representation in clinical trials.

The population in the United States continues to get more diverse, and nearly half of the population identifies as non-Hispanic white, Goel says. Although Hispanic and Black communities are both growing, non-Hispanic White patients still comprise approximately 85%-90% of clinical trial enrollment, Goel adds. Due to disproportionate enrollment in clinical trials, some patients in the community are being treated with therapeutic interventions and decisions based on data generated from patients that may have different presentations of cancer, Goel explains.

Genetic differences exist between races, which can influence how patients respond to therapy in terms of efficacy and toxicity, Goel emphasizes. Having equitable representation of the community in clinical trials can help address these issues, Goel says. Though it will take time to get to this point, it is important to address these problems now, Goel concludes.