Photo Credit: Hachiware

Black patients with endometrial cancer (EC) are underrepresented in clinical drug trials despite having higher rates of aggressive histologies, according to a retrospective cohort study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Using a database from 800 US academic and community practices, Anna Jo Bodurtha Smith, MD, MPH, and colleagues analyzed data from 4,423 patients diagnosed with EC between 2013 and 2021. The researchers found that only 3.8% of patients participated in clinical trials. Among participants, 72.4% were White, 10.6% were Black, 0.59% were Asian, and 16.4% identified as other races. Black patients, who had the highest proportion of high-risk histology, were 50% less likely than White patients to participate in trials (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30-0.83). High-risk histology (RR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.12-4.62) and residence in the Southeast (RR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.26-5.3) were associated with increased participation. The study authors emphasized a critical need to address racial disparities and promote diversity in clinical trial enrollment for EC.