For individuals diagnosed with cancer, participation in a clinical trial offers the opportunity to explore new treatment options.
However, for many, finding and navigating the right clinical trial can be challenging due to various barriers in the process.
To address these issues, the American Cancer Society has announced the national expansion of ACS ACTS (Access to Clinical Trials and Support), a comprehensive clinical trial matching service built to increase equitable access to clinical trials.
Cancer clinical trials are studies of new medicines, procedures and other treatments that may improve cancer outcomes.
They help scientists and doctors determine if a new treatment is safe and effective before it is approved for use in the US to treat cancer.
For the best data, participants in these trials should reflect the various backgrounds impacted by cancer.
Making these trials more accessible by removing geographic, financial, logistical and cultural barriers improves cancer outcomes at both the individual and population levels.
The ACS ACTS programme provides trained American Cancer Society specialists who help patients, caregivers and healthcare providers understand how clinical trials fit into treatment, explore personalised trial options and access ACS resources to overcome participation barriers.
Caregivers and individuals of all ages with any type of cancer in all 50 states and US-based territories are eligible for the service.
To participate, a provider, caregiver, or patient calls or submits an intake form on the ACS ACTS webpage to receive general clinical trial education, health-related social needs screening and the opportunity to explore clinical trial matching.
If the decision is made to move forward with matching, collaborating biotechnology company Massive Bio provides a personalised AI-matched list of eligible cancer clinical trials sourced through clinicaltrials.gov to patients.
Throughout the process, ACS ACTS offers resources and free American Cancer Society services, such as Road to Recovery and Hope Lodge communities, to address some of the barriers patients face in participating in clinical trials.
"When diagnosed with cancer, deciding if a clinical trial is right for you can be overwhelming," said Dr Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society.
"The support ACS ACTS provides empowers people with the tools and resources to find the best treatment options available, while continuing the American Cancer Society's focus on removing barriers to care."