What keeps patients out of clinical trials? 

Researchers often have trouble getting enough patients to sign up for a clinical trial. That’s often blamed on patient factors, but a new studysuggests other forces are at play. Researchers combed through studies on clinical trial participation that involved more than 8,800 cancer patients. They found more than half didn’t have a trial available to them at their institution, and 22 percent were deemed ineligible. The findings underscore the "enormous need" to address barriers to participation, the researchers say. What might help: expanding trial locations, widening eligibility criteria, and encouraging doctors to talk about clinical trial options with their patients.