Social vulnerability limits clinical trial participation in cancer surgery.

An analysis of over 399,000 gastrointestinal cancer surgery patients revealed that only 1.9% participated in clinical trials, with significant barriers linked to social vulnerability. Factors such as being female, Black, having Medicaid, and residing in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods correlated with lower enrollment rates. Furthermore, patients treated at community hospitals faced even greater obstacles, as high social vulnerability compounded their likelihood of participation. The findings highlight critical disparities in access to vital cancer trials.