Local Clinical Trials: The Need of the Hour to Improve Global Cancer Care.

Clinical trials play a crucial role in advancing cancer care and improving patient outcomes. However, the proportion of cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials is low, even in advanced countries. Global studies tend to enroll patients from countries with robust clinical trial infrastructure, potentially leaving out patients from other regions. There are significant differences in the tolerability and efficacy of anticancer drugs between different populations, highlighting the need for research in countries where specific cancers are more prevalent. Lower- and middle-income countries bear a significant burden of cancer cases and deaths, but the benefits of research in developed countries are not reaching them. Conducting local research in these countries is essential to ensure that patients receive treatments relevant to their specific populations. However, there are challenges such as limited research training and time constraints for clinicians in these settings. Governments should facilitate clinical trials by establishing research infrastructure, providing training programs, and reducing barriers to research. This can lead to regional collaborations and improve the quality of cancer care worldwide, reducing disparities and alleviating the global cancer burden. [Extracted from the article]