Adapting to a Pandemic - Conducting Oncology Trials during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Jul 1;26(13):3100-3103. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-1364. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has necessitated changes in cancer care delivery as resources are reallocated. Clinical trials and other research activities are inevitably impacted. Start-up activities for new trials may be deferred and recruitment suspended. For patients already enrolled however, there are challenges in continuing treatment on trial. Regulatory bodies have issued guidance on managing clinical trials during the pandemic, including contingency measures for remote study visits, delivery of investigational product, and site monitoring visits. New cancer clinical trial practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic include new risk assessment strategies, decentralized and remote trial coordination, data collection, and delegation of specific therapeutic activities. This experience could provide evidence of more feasible and cost-effective methods for future clinical trial conduct.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / organization & administration*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / standards
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Data Collection / methods
  • Data Collection / standards
  • Data Collection / trends
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / standards
  • Infection Control / trends
  • Medical Oncology / organization & administration*
  • Medical Oncology / standards
  • Medical Oncology / trends
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Patient Selection
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Assessment
  • SARS-CoV-2