Tobacco Assessment in Actively Accruing National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Network Trials.

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco use can adversely affect cancer treatment outcomes, yet routine assessment has not been fully incorporated into oncology clinical trials. In 2012, rates of tobacco use assessment in actively accruing National Cancer Institute (NCI) trials were <30% at enrollment and <5% during follow-up, prompting efforts by the NCI and major oncology associations to promote and standardize tobacco assessment in oncology research and practice (including development of the Cancer Patient Tobacco Use Questionnaire [C-TUQ]). This study was conducted to re-examine assessment patterns in 2022 (including utilization of the C-TUQ) and evaluate progress.

Methods: Protocols and forms from 144 actively accruing (as of December 2022) NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) trials were evaluated using a standardized coding instrument.

Results: Of 144 trials, 49.3% assessed tobacco use at enrollment (43.8% measured cigarettes, 14.8% e-cigarettes, and <12.5% other tobacco products). Approximately 20.8% used at least one C-TUQ question, but only 3.5% used all four core items. Few measured secondhand smoke exposure (3.5%) or quit interest (2.8%). At follow-up, 8.3% assessed any form of tobacco use. Assessment rates were higher in smoking-related cancer trials.

Conclusion: Almost half of accruing trials did not measure any tobacco use and fewer used the C-TUQ. There was a >70% increase in tobacco use assessment at enrollment and follow-up compared to 2012, an improvement with room for further enhancement. Standardized tobacco use information enhances investigators' ability to estimate cancer treatment efficacy, offer equitable cessation support, and accurately understand the impact of tobacco use on treatment outcomes.

Implications: In 2012, few (<30%) cancer clinical trials evaluated tobacco use at enrollment and <5% did so during follow-up, prompting efforts to promote and standardize tobacco assessment in oncology research and practice (including development of the Cancer Patient Tobacco Use Questionnaire [C-TUQ]). The present study builds on this foundational paper and finds an overall increase in tobacco use assessment with room for improvement: 49.3% of trials in 2022 assessed tobacco use at enrollment and 8.3% did so during follow-up. About 20.8% used at least one C-TUQ question, highlighting that tobacco use assessment is not yet fully incorporated into oncology clinical trials.