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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Oncology Clinical Research in Latin America (LACOG 0420)

Authors :
Aline B. Lara Gongora
Gustavo Werutsky
Denis L. Jardim
Angelica Nogueira-Rodrigues
Carlos H. Barrios
Clarissa Mathias
Fernando Maluf
Rachel Riechelmann
Maurício Fraga
Henry Gomes
William N. William
Camilla A. F. Yamada
Gilberto de Castro Jr
Daniela D. Rosa
Andreia C. de Melo
Raul Sala
Eva Bustamante
Denisse Bretel
Oscar Arrieta
Andrés F. Cardona
Diogo A. Bastos
Source :
JCO Global Oncology, Vol , Iss 7, Pp 649-658 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2021.

Abstract

PURPOSECOVID-19 has affected cancer care worldwide. Clinical trials are an important alternative for the treatment of oncologic patients, especially in Latin America, where trials can be the only opportunity for some of them to access novel and, sometimes, standard treatments.METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study, in which a 22-question survey regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncology clinical trials was sent to 350 representatives of research programs in selected Latin American institutions, members of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group.RESULTSThere were 90 research centers participating in the survey, with 70 of them from Brazil. The majority were partly private or fully private (n = 77; 85.6%) and had confirmed COVID-19 cases at the institution (n = 57; 63.3%). Accruals were suspended at least for some studies in 80% (n = 72) of the responses, mostly because of sponsors' decision. Clinical trials' routine was affected by medical visits cancelation, reduction of patients' attendance, reduction of other specialties' availability, and/or alterations on follow-up processes. Formal COVID-19 mitigation policies were adopted in 96.7% of the centers, including remote monitoring and remote site initiation visits, telemedicine visits, reduction of research team workdays or home office, special consent procedures, shipment of oral drugs directly to patients' home, and increase in outpatient diagnostic studies. Importantly, some of these changes were suggested to be part of future oncology clinical trials' routine, particularly the ones regarding remote methods, such as telemedicine.CONCLUSIONTo our knowledge, this was the first survey to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Latin American oncology clinical trials. The results are consistent with surveys from other world regions. These findings may endorse improvements in clinical trials' processes and management in the postpandemic period.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26878941
Volume :
7
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
JCO Global Oncology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.6436c3390d04fb48eb100f0ab3f6c2c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1200/GO.20.00663