Sustained cancer clinical trial activity during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic deeply threatens the rigorous conduct of clinical trials, notably by delaying site initiation visits, patient enrolment, treatment administration, trial-associated procedures, and data monitoring. Unlike most other medical specialties, clinical trials are an integral part of patient care in oncology. Limiting access to clinical trials therefore results in a loss of chance for patients. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we collected clinical trial-specific items (including patient-related or trial management-related items) during the first pandemic wave (March– June 2020) and lockdown (March 17th-May 11th) at Gustave Roussy, and compared them to those of the same period in 2019. Results: In March 2020, 84 phase I (P1) and 210 phase II/III (P2/3) trials were open. During the first pandemic wave, 21 (25%) P1 and 20 (9%) P2/3 trials were temporarily halted, following a unilateral sponsor decision in virtually all cases;all but one were industry-sponsored. Despite this, all important metrics of the P1/2 trial activity remained similar to those of 2019, including the number of patients referred for inclusion (599 vs 620), inclusion consultations (215 vs 247), patients starting treatment (130 vs 130), Internal Review Board (IRB) submissions (14 vs 16), and site initiation visits (11 vs 15), all in 2020 vs 2019, respectively. The impact of the first lock-down was more marked on P2/3, with 152 patient inclusions (vs 346 in 2019), 125 randomizations (vs 278), 43 IRB submissions (vs 50) and 34 site initiation visits (vs 40). However, in parallel, 475 patients were included in three “COVID and cancer” trials. Among the 443 P1 and 2851 P2/3 patients, 198 and 628 COVID-19 PCR were performed internally, and five and 15 (2.5%) were positive, respectively. One patient with a community-based COVID-19 died after transfer in intensive care. Conclusions: Cancer clinical trials can, and must be maintained despite challenges brought by COVID-19. Sharing experiences and retrospectively evaluating the impact on patients’ safety and cancer-related outcomes will be critical to durably improve the clinical trials conduct and to anticipate at best challenges brought by future similar crises. Legal entity responsible for the study Gustave Roussy. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.