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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

L.B. Robertson, DrPH, Cancer Centers, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, 412-647-8588, robertsonlk@upmc.edu

The use of dietary supplements by individuals undergoing cancer treatment is well known. However, it is not known if patients on cancer treatment clinical trials consume them. Clinical trials may involve the use of drugs/ investigative agents, which are being studied to determine their safety and efficacy. The focus of this study was to determine if individuals enrolled in clinical treatment trials use dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals and herbs) and why. The study's aims were to: document the use of dietary supplements among patients with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer who were enrolled in a clinical trial, evaluate oncologists' perceptions regarding their patients' use of dietary supplements, and, evaluate the design of clinical trial protocols to determine if dietary supplement use was addressed. The study employed an exploratory, descriptive design whereby 99 cancer patients who were enrolled in a clinical treatment trial were interviewed, 53 oncologists were surveyed and the design of 70 multi-institutional breast, prostate and colorectal cancer clinical trials were reviewed. The study findings indicate that patients are consuming dietary supplements while enrolled in clinical treatment trials. The patients perceive that they communicate this information to their oncologists, however, routine assessment and documentation is lacking. In general, the clinical trial protocols did not address the use of dietary supplements. The importance of these findings from a public health perspective is that patients with cancer are consuming unregulated substances while enrolled in a clinical trial and potentially may be at risk for drug interactions.

Learning Objectives: Following the session, the participant should be able to

1.List four reasons why it is important to know if a patient is taking dietary supplements while enrolled on a clinical trial for the treatment of cancer. 2.Identify three things that should be documented about any dietary supplement that a patient is taking. 3.Recognize the importance of communicating the patient's use of dietary supplements to the treating physician.
• List 5 dietary supplements commonly used by patients with cancer.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No