Clinical trial participants call for more inclusive, patient-centered cancer research

“By embracing transparency, inclusivity, and patient advocacy, we can transform clinical trials into a true partnership between medical research and the individuals it seeks to serve.”

BUFFALO, NY – November 17, 2025 – A new research perspective was published in Oncotarget (Volume 16) on November 14, 2025, titled “A personal perspective of patient-centred clinical trials.”

In this perspective, led by corresponding author Jia Liu of The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent’s Hospital, the University of New South Wales, and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, three early-phase clinical trial participants — Trevor Tyne, Elizabeth Ivimey, and Leanne Duggan — reflect on their personal experiences with experimental cancer treatments. Their stories offer a unique perspective on the patient journey through early-phase trials and emphasize the need to design clinical research that prioritizes patients’ needs, dignity, and lived realities. The authors highlight both the life-changing opportunities that trials can provide and the systemic barriers that still prevent many patients from participating.

This perspective captures a turning point in how early-phase trials are viewed. Once considered a last resort, these trials are now increasingly offered earlier in treatment, especially with the rise of biomarker-guided therapies. In this context, the patient experience has become critical. The authors outline key benefits of participation, including access to novel therapies, ongoing medical monitoring, emotional support, and a strong sense of purpose in contributing to future medical advancements. However, they also point out significant challenges, such as restrictive eligibility criteria, high financial and logistical burdens, and communication gaps between patients and trial staff.

“While no trial guarantees success, the level of support, access to innovative therapies, and sense of contribution to medical progress can be profoundly meaningful.” 

Each narrative provides insight into the clinical trial experience. One patient explains how living with a visual impairment required tailored accessibility support throughout the trial process Another shares how genomic testing led to targeted treatment after standard options failed. Despite their different diagnoses and circumstances, all three stories reflect resilience, hope, and a shared call for trial designs that better reflect the realities of diverse patients.

To address these issues, the authors propose a number of improvements to trial design and delivery. These include expanding eligibility criteria, offering financial and logistical assistance, improving communication training for research staff, and introducing dedicated trial navigators to help guide patients through complex processes. They also focus on the importance of involving patient advocates in trial design and ensuring smoother transitions for patients moving between treatment centers.

While early-phase trials focus on safety and effectiveness, the authors argue they must also be guided by core values like ethics and patient empowerment. This perspective serves as a reminder that the future of cancer research depends not only on scientific innovation, but on an honest partnership between patients and the research community.

By sharing these real-world experiences, the article encourages a broader conversation about how to make clinical trials more responsive to the people they are designed to serve.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28776

Correspondence to: Jia Liu – jia.liu@svha.org.au

Abstract video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CCGN78n8ug

Keywords: cancer, precision oncology, patient-centric care, clinical trials, tumor agnostic, drug development

Click here to sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article.

________

About Oncotarget:

Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.

Oncotarget is indexed and archived by PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, META (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) (2018-2022), and Dimensions (Digital Science).

To learn more about Oncotarget, visit Oncotarget.com and connect with us on social media:

X
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Spotify, and available wherever you listen to podcasts

Click here to subscribe to Oncotarget publication updates.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com