OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting suitability of the cancer patients for drug clinical trials in Turkey.

METHODS: A total of 1316 patients that admitted to 5 centers including university, and research and education (R&E) hospitals were included.

RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 57.2±14.0 years, and 50.3% (n=662) were male. Mean age of the males were higher than the females (59.3±13.5 vs 54.1±14.1; p<0.001). Most frequent cancer types were breast (22.6%), lung (15.3%), and colorectal cancers (10.7%). Most frequent treatment plans were for metastatic disease (61.2%), and first-line therapies (58.8%) in these metastatic patients. Most frequent barrier against suitability was living in a far city (45%). Other factors were absence of a histological diagnosis (1.7%), age (6%), poor performance status (34.5%), inadequate liver (6.5%), renal (8.8%), bone-marrow (2.2%), and cardiac functions (4%), cranial metastasis (7.3%), cord-pressure (2.2%), secondary cancer (3.7%), and participation to prior clinical trial (2.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: Most significant factor for non-suitability for clinical trials in Turkey was living in a far city from the study center. Also, poor performance status, and insufficient organ functions also negatively affect suitability for clinical trials.