Factors influencing clinical trial enrollment among ovarian cancer patients

To characterize patients who did not enroll on a clinical trial and identify barriers that may limit enrollment among patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) presenting for first-line chemotherapy. We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with stage II-IV EOC from 10/2009–4/2013, a time period during which multiple trials were available to all EOC patients, including optimally debulked, suboptimally debulked, or undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Enrollment status, demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment details were recorded. SAS version 9.3 was used for all analyses. 144 patients met study criteria; 67% were enrolled on a trial. Enrolled patients were significantly younger (median 61 vs 68years, p=0.002). Stage (p=0.30), race (p=0.75), and performance status (p=0.38) were similar between enrolled and non-enrolled patients. Distance did not impact enrollment, as nearly half of patients in both groups lived >50miles from the treatment center (39.0% vs 47.8%, p=0.36). Mode of chemotherapy administration significantly differed based on participation (all p