“COVID-19 is placing an incredible strain on the cancer care system, causing tragic results for some patients with cancer and their families, but there has also been an unprecedented response by the oncology community, which is coming together and adapting in new ways,” said ASCO President Howard A. “Skip” Burris, III, MD, FACP, FASCO.“While we’re in very tough times, this crisis presents an opportunity to improve the quality and resiliency of cancer care. To maximize that potential, we’ll be drawing on the expertise of the full cancer community, action by policymakers, and data to proactively transition to post-crisis cancer care and achieve the best outcomes for patients in the months and years ahead.”
During a presscast entitled, “COVID-19 and Cancer: Addressing a Healthcare System in Crisis,” the Society and Association detailed the impact of the coronavirus on cancer care, the federal government and cancer community’s response, and recommendations for moving forward. National leaders and oncology experts also shared new data and laid out specific steps that need to be taken to appropriately transition to post-crisis cancer care.
Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Clinical Trials
The Society released results from a survey of oncology research programs, which examined the initial impact of COVID-19 on clinical trials conducted by academic and community-based oncology research sites. The survey results, which were posted online today ahead of publication in an article in JCO Oncology Practice, found that only a few weeks into the pandemic, 60 percent of research programs reported halting screening and/or enrollment for certain clinical trials.
More than two-thirds of survey respondents reported using remote visits to replace clinical trial visits, although research sites were facing challenges in organizing, implementing, and conducting telehealth. Respondents also reported a decline in patients’ ability or willingness to come to the site, and limited availability of radiology, surgery, cardiology, and other ancillary services that are essential for some clinical trials.
The article’s authors call for the cancer research community to evaluate the impact of clinical trial protocol modifications—such as trials with expanded and/or flexible timelines and reduced data collection requirements—during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if trials can safely and successfully continue once the pandemic has ended, as well as whether such modifications can accelerate patient enrollment.
Source: "New Clinical Trial Data, Initiatives, And Path Forward For Post-COVID-19 Cancer Care Delivery System Announced". 2020. ASCO.
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