Why Federally Funded Cancer Trials Matter, Especially for Rare Abdominal Cancers

When you hear “clinical trials,” you might think of the drug companies doing studies of new medicines. But did you know that federally funded trials—backed by government agencies—play a unique and absolutely critical role in cancer research? A recent study shows just how important they are for rare cancers, children, and complex treatment strategies.

What the Study Found

Researchers looked at more than 10,000 U.S. cancer trials from 2008 to 2024. Only about 17% were federally funded; the rest were sponsored by industry (primarily pharmaceutical companies). Here’s how federally funded trials stood out:

• They are more likely to be early-phase trials (where safety, dosing, or combinations are tested).

• They more often study multimodality treatments: not just a new drug on its own, but drug + surgery, or drug + radiation, for example.

• They more often focus on rare cancers, children’s cancers, or dose-deescalation (testing whether lower doses can still work).

• Industry trials tend to focus more on single new drugs and late-phase trials (the step before approval) because those often have clearer commercial incentives.

  
  

The authors concluded that federally funded trials help fill gaps that the private sector often leaves, especially for diseases and approaches that are scientifically important but not necessarily profitable.

Why This Matters for Patients

• For rare and advanced abdominal cancers, industry sponsors may see less financial incentive to invest. Federally funded trials can step in where industry may not.

• Because these federally funded trials are more flexible, they can test combination treatments (for instance, adding surgery, radiation, or local therapies) that might hold more promise for complex, advanced diseases.

• They can also target rare patient groups (e.g. fewer patients with a rare abdominal cancer) and pediatric populations that are often ignored otherwise.

• Finally, they help push the science forward even when the “market” doesn’t guarantee profits, ensuring progress for the patients who need it most.

Why This Matters for Our Mission

At the Abdominal Cancers Alliance, we believe every patient deserves access to cutting-edge science and hope. That’s why we support efforts to expand federally funded trials focused on rare and advanced abdominal cancers: including appendix, colorectal, endometrial, gallbladder and bile duct, gastric, neuroendocrine, ovarian, pancreatic, peritoneal mesothelioma, prostate, small bowel, uterine, and even advanced breast cancers. We’re shining a light on these often-overlooked diseases and lifesaving treatments like cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC. When the government backs these studies, it helps open doors to new treatments, gives patients more options, ensures that no disease is “too rare” to be studied, and gets patients to the specialized care they need earlier in their cancer journey.

With strong federal support, patients, caregivers, and researchers can work together to push for breakthroughs in the cancers that too often are overlooked.

By advocating for more federally funded trials and research attention, we aim to bring lifesaving treatments like cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC to more patients who need them. Together, we can make sure every patient—no matter how rare their diagnosis—has hope, options, and a strong community by their side.

The study will be presented during the 2025 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, taking place October 10 to 11, 2025 in Chicago. You can read the full abstract here.