Improving access to cancer trials for underrepresented minorities
Official title: SURGE: Supporting Utility and Representation in Genomics-based Cancer Trial Enrollment (Intervention)
Run by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · NCT05375643 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is trying out a new program to help people from underrepresented backgrounds with advanced cancers learn about and access genomic testing for clinical trials.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 210 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 3, 2023 |
| Main results expected | December 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 30, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05375643 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 or older who are Black, Latinx, or aged 70 and above, and are scheduled for a new patient consultation with suspected or confirmed advanced malignancies.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have a malignancy that only requires surveillance or those who do not continue care at a participating DFCI site may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
SURGE is an interventional pilot program designed to enhance equity in clinical trial enrollment by addressing barriers to genomic testing among historically underrepresented populations diagnosed with advanced gastrointestinal, hematologic, or thoracic cancers. The intervention includes a patient navigator, a text message questionnaire, and an educational video aimed at improving medical literacy and addressing social determinants of health. The study will assess the feasibility of these interventions in supporting informed decision-making regarding genomic tumor consent. It will be conducted across two academic and two community practice sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this initiative could significantly improve access to precision therapies and clinical trials for underrepresented minority patients with cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of addressing barriers to genomic testing in underrepresented populations is gaining attention, this specific intervention is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult (age 18 years or older) * Scheduled for a new patient consultation * Suspected or confirmed advanced malignancy (requiring active treatment) * DFCI patient at Longwood/Chestnut Hill, DFCI satellite at BMC-Brighton (formerly St. Elizabeth's Medical Center), DFCI satellite at Foxborough, or DFCI satellite at Merrimack Valley Exclusion Criteria: * Malignancy or former malignancy that requires only surveillance * Not continuing care at a participating DFCI site * Speaks a language other than English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, or Traditional Chinese * Unable to provide consent
Where it's running
-
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
Brighton, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Dana-Farber Cancer Instiute - Merrimack Valley
Methuen, Massachusetts, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nadine A Jackson, MD MPH — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Nadine A Jackson, MD MPH
- Email: na_jackson@dfci.harvard.edu
- Phone: (617) 632-6729
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.