Cancer clinical trial participants reimbursed a median $2,128 for nonmedical expenses

by Wiley

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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New research reveals that participating in cancer clinical trials can cause financial burdens that are shaped by both socioeconomic and logistical factors. The analysis published by Wiley online in CANCER, indicates the need for better reimbursement programs to improve equitable access to, and retention in, cancer clinical trials.

For adults with cancer, participating in clinical trials can carry costs related to travel, lodging, meals, internet access, missed work and greater need for child care or elder care. In the United States, federal legislation addressing financial support for clinical trial participants is currently under consideration. Recognizing the need for financial support for participation in trials, the Lazarex Cancer Foundation reimbursed out-of-pocket nonmedical costs from 2006 to 2024 for patients enrolled in therapeutic cancer clinical trials across multiple U.S. sites.

When investigators examined the types and amounts of expenses faced by trial participants, they found that among 2,826 individuals who received at least one reimbursement, median total per-patient reimbursement was $2,128, median trial participation duration was 4.3 months, and monthly reimbursed amounts declined substantially throughout trial participation (with monthly reimbursements falling to 60% of initial levels by three months into trial participation).

Importantly, the program reimbursed expenses only if there were no other sources of financial support from the trial sponsor or site.

Types of reimbursement varied by patient income: internet, ground transportation and child care or elder care were more common at lower income levels, while lodging and airfare were more common at higher income levels. After adjustments, monthly reimbursed amounts were greater for participants in middle-tier household income quartiles, those living farther from trial sites and those in phase 1 trials.

"When we consider the overall cost of running cancer clinical trials, covering patients' travel, lodging and other nonmedical expenses represents a relatively small investment. Our findings suggest that these costs are modest compared with what sponsors already spend per participant and decline substantially over time," said lead author Sukh Makhnoon, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the O'Donnell School of Public Health and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

"Reimbursing patients for these expenses could be a practical and relatively inexpensive way to reduce financial barriers and make cancer clinical trials more accessible."

Publication details

Patient Reimbursement in Therapeutic Cancer Clinical Trials: An 18-Year Multicenter Experience, Cancer (2026). DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70625

Journal information: Cancer

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Cancer

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Oncology Provided by Wiley Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

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