“Expanding Clinical Trials to Community Settings”

Emmanuel Antonarakis, MD, and Gautam Jha, MD, emphasize the importance of collaboration in expanding the reach of clinical trials beyond university hospitals to improve patient accessibility and engagement in community settings.

Their discussion focused on the joint efforts between the University of Minnesota and local community cancer centers to boost enrollment in the phase 3 ECLIPSE trial (NCT05204927). This trial compared 177Lu-PSMA-I&T to standard hormone therapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had previously received androgen receptor-directed therapy.

The partnership with community oncologists aimed to broaden the pool of potential trial participants. While the radiopharmaceutical 177Lu-PSMA-I&T could only be administered at the University of Minnesota, patient identification and recruitment were decentralized to local settings to facilitate accessibility.

Jha highlighted the practical advantages of this collaboration, such as reducing the travel burden on patients and increasing trial participation rates among those receiving treatment in their communities. By leveraging existing networks, Jha and his team effectively involved local oncologists in identifying suitable candidates for the trial.

The commitment to collaboration showcased by Jha and Antonarakis exemplifies a practical approach to trial recruitment that combines the strengths of academic and community oncology. This model not only facilitated patient identification and engagement but also advanced prostate cancer research and treatment options in the University of Minnesota’s vicinity.

In conclusion, the collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota and community cancer centers successfully broadened the trial’s reach and impact, ultimately benefiting patients in the region seeking innovative treatment options for prostate cancer.