Lack of Representation and Reporting of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in US Colorectal Cancer Surgical Trials

A systematic review and regression analysis of 15 US-based colorectal cancer surgical trials found significant disparities in the representation and reporting of racially and ethnically diverse participants. Out of the included trials, 66.7% did not report race and 73.3% did not describe ethnicity adequately. The pooled proportion of white participants was 81.3%, while black, Asian, and Hispanic participants comprised only 6.2%, 3.6%, and 3.5% respectively. The study highlights the urgent need for improved reporting and inclusion of minority populations in surgical trials to ensure equitable outcomes.