The Growing Roles of RWD and RWE in Oncology

In a recent video interview with Applied Clinical Trials, C.K. Wang, MD, chief medical officer, COTA, discussed a recent study he led on leveraging real-world data (RWD) to improve oncology reporting. Additionally, Wang highlighted recent trends and challenges in the oncology research space involving the use of RWD as well as real-world evidence (RWE).

ACT: As their role continues to grow even more, how have advances in RWE and RWD helped clinical research in oncology?

Wang: I would say that the best thing about RWD and RWE is that they are able to reflect what is happening to all patients in the real world, regardless of whether or not they were enrolled in a clinical trial. As a result, when used appropriately, RWD and RWE can really help us address the challenge of how to best treat certain groups of patients in all clinical scenarios, and not just the specific clinical setting that that we get from the clinical trials. I think that additionally, real-world data has the potential to help us expedite the way clinical trials are being conducted. The clinical trial mechanism really hasn't changed much in the past few decades, and as a result, the number of patients that participate ever in a clinical trial remains extremely low and depending on the source that you look at, this ranges anywhere between, 3-7%. I've seen 10% cited, but 10% of all cancer patients, it's an extremely low percentage of patients participating in trials. As a result, we believe that when used in the clinical trial mechanism, is that real-world data can really help throughout the whole trial continuum, from helping us to better refine the clinical trial criteria, to actually maximize patients that may be treated on the trial to facilitating the actual trial process, and that under the right circumstances and the right treatment setting, to actually serve as its own external control arm, thereby ensuring that all patients enrolled on a trial are getting treated by what is hoped to be the best and the newest therapy.