Although the West Virginia Oncology Society (WVOS) is barely 2 years old, its members have undertaken an ambitious plan to establish a statewide clinical trial network. In June the society received a $10,000 grant from ASCO's State Affiliate Grant Program to help lay the groundwork for the network.

First-year Focus

In this first year of setting up a clinical trial network, the focus is on educating cancer care providers in the state about clinical trial requirements and gaining support for the network. In collaboration with West Virginia University, the society has also received a $35,000 grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure to support these initial activities.
West Virginia has the third-highest state death rate from cancer. "A goal of the society is to expand access to state-of-the-art clinical trials for patients in West Virginia," said WVOS President John Azar, MD, a medical oncologist in solo practice in Fairmont, West Virginia. "The opportunity to participate in clinical trials is not available at all clinical sites in our state." Dr. Azar estimates that the state has between 70 and 100 oncologists, many in rural practices of one or two. "The only way to have a statewide clinical network and be cost-effective is to band together," he said.

The society is off to a good start. Dr. Azar estimates that about 95% of oncologists in West Virginia have joined WVOS. A pilot clinical trial network begun in January 2009 at four sites had enrolled 40 patients by the end of April 2010. Once the statewide clinical trial network is set up, the challenge will be to gain broad participation.

"This is something major, and we need to have 95% on board with the project," Dr. Azar said. "The only way to make progress in oncology is to put people on clinical trial. We feel that this is a noble thing, and we are very excited about it."

To learn more about establishing a network, the members of a small ad hoc committee reviewed clinical trial networks that had been established in three states-Florida, Kentucky, and New Mexico-asking questions about administration, funding, patient screening, staff requirements, and government subsidies. The information obtained and the challenges addressed in each state are helping the WVOS develop its own network.

Training Weekend Planned

Providing education about clinical trials for physicians, nurses, and administrators is the next step on the society's to-do list. A task force of about 12 WVOS members is planning the training, a 2- or 3-day weekend program to be held in a central location in West Virginia. "We have to learn a lot about data management, ethical considerations, budgets, and administration of clinical trials," Dr. Azar said.

A combination of local experts and out-of-state consultants will be used as faculty. Task force members have had conversations with companies who have offered to provide a clinical trial training module. Physicians, nurses, administrators, data managers, and statisticians are expected to be involved in the educational program.

The funding from the ASCO and Komen grants is supporting the educational and organizational activities targeted in this initial year of establishing the network. Once the network is established as a nonprofit organization, fundraising to initiate the clinical trial network will begin in earnest. Dr. Azar estimates that $200,000 to $300,000 will be needed in start-up costs. "We are looking for funding from institutions within the state," he said. ■

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