A lack of trials into pancreatic cancer is a significant barrier to understanding the difficult-to-treat disease, according to a healthcare analytics company.
GlobalData says research into the disease remains poor because of sub-standard design of trials and low patient recruitment levels: just 4.6% of the total patient population with pancreatic cancer was enrolled in US-based clinical trials in 2011 – 15% of the target enrolment rate.
It means that progress in pancreatic adenocarcinoma trials is “sluggish”.
Louis Perdios, healthcare analyst at GlobalData, said: “The slow accrual rate is a major cause of trials missing their planned completion dates, and even more unfavourably, trial termination due to insufficient number of patients enrolled. Programs providing the appropriate resources and guidelines are required to support accrual to clinical trials.”
Its analysis also showed that as well as poor recruitment, pancreatic cancer trials have poor success rates.
Between 1997 and 2015, from 35 unique therapeutic regimens evaluated in 39 phase III pancreatic adenocarcinoma trials, only 11% had favourable outcomes, while 85% were conducted despite the preceding phase II studies not meeting their primary endpoints.
Perdios added: “Early determinants of response and prognostic measures are still lacking in pancreatic cancer. The downturn in clinical trials can be addressed by embracing technological advances, by tackling inadequate operational procedures, and improving communication between physicians and patients, as well as between cancer research agencies, the pharmaceutical industry and patient advocacy groups.”
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