A recent study highlights how economic development has influenced the expansion of cancer clinical trials in low- and middle-income nations since 2001, though its impact varies significantly across regions. Published by Wiley in the peer-reviewed journal CANCER, the research indicates that while financial progress plays a role, it is not the sole factor shaping research capacity in these countries. n nAlthough high-income nations continue to dominate clinical trial activity, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are expected to face the largest rise in cancer cases globally in the coming decades. Over the past twenty years, researchers analyzed trends in trial volume and complexity across these regions, particularly in relation to economic shifts. From 2001 to 2020, a total of 16,977 cancer-related clinical studies were recorded in LMICs. n nNotably, China and South Korea in Asia demonstrated robust economic advancement alongside a steady increase in clinical research. Eastern European nations and Turkey also showed growth, though at a more modest pace. In contrast, despite strong economic performance, countries such as India, Thailand, and Vietnam saw uneven progress in trial development. Meanwhile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico in the Americas expanded their research efforts even amid economic stagnation. In Africa, Egypt’s economic rise paralleled a growth in trials, whereas South Africa did not show a similar pattern. n nThese findings suggest that while financial development supports research infrastructure, other elements—such as governance, healthcare systems, and scientific collaboration—also play crucial roles in determining a country’s ability to conduct advanced clinical studies.
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Economic growth drives disparities in global cancer research
New research reveals that the number and complexity of cancer clinical trials since 2001 have varied across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with economic growth contributing to disparities, but only to a certain extent. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. n nAlthough LMICs are expected to experience the greatest global burden of cancer in the coming years, cancer clinical trials are disproportionately concentrated in high-income countries. Because evidence suggests that LMICs have increased the number of cancer clinical trials over the last few decades, researchers investigated disparities in the number and complexity of such trials among LMICs over time and according to economic changes. n nBetween 2001 and 2020, a total of 16,977 cancer clinical trials in LMICs were registered. The Asian countries of China and South Korea experienced strong economic growth and increases in clinical trials. Similar trends, though less impressive, were observed in Eastern European countries and the Western Asian/Southern European country of Turkey. n nConversely, South and Southeast Asian countries like India, Thailand, and Vietnam-which also experienced strong economic growth-had mainly inconsistent growth in clinical trials. The North and South American countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico were able to increase their number of clinical trials despite relative economic stagnation. Among African countries, Egypt showed strong economic growth with a corresponding increase in clinical trials, but no such correlation was seen in South Africa. n nTaken together, the findings suggest that economic growth is a contributor but not the single determinant of cancer clinical trial growth among LMICs.