Inclusion of Elderly Patients With Colorectal Cancer in Clinical Trials

Background: Inadequate representation of elderly cancer patients in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) leading to a lack of external validity thereby an uncertainty regarding benefit-risk balance of cancer treatment in elderly, especially chemotherapy.
Hypothesis: The eligibility criteria explain only a part of the under-representation of elderly patients in trials. We make the assumptions that 1) Among the eligible, the invitation to participate in a trial and inclusion are inversely related to age, 2) Among the eligible, there are patients, practitioner, or organization factors that would explain the non inclusion of elderly patients.
Objectives:
1) To assess, in elderly patients with colorectal cancer, the proportions of patients:
1. eligible at least to one RCT
2. invited to participate
3. included 2)
a) Compare proportions among elderly patients to those of the comparator group of "young" subjects (age ≥ 18 and <65 years) (added by amendment n°3 accepted 18/02/2014) b)To identify factors associated with the non-invitation and the non-inclusion in RCT.
Material and methods:
Study design: A multicentric prospective cohort survey Population: all patients aged 18 years or more (added by amendment n°3 - 02/2014) with a colorectal cancer followed in one of the participating centers.
Data collection:
* At baseline: Patient characteristics (including SOCIO-demographic, oncologic and geriatric data) will be collected. Organization factors (e.g. clinical research team) will be collected.
* Follow-up: the patient will be followed for potential invitation and inclusion in one RCT. Reasons of non-invitation or non-inclusion will be assessed.
Number of subjects needed: 696 (553 elderly patients and 143 "young" patients) Number of centers : 7 (added by amendment n°3 - 02/2014)
Ethical aspects: each patient will give his oral informed consent. The International Review Board of Mondor Hospital (CPP Ile-de-France IX) gave its approval in December 2012.