Clinical Trial Successes and Missed Opportunities: Dr. Richard Lee

Prostate cancer clinical trials are a critical part of cancer care, but they’re still missing the patients who may benefit most. This session breaks down the persistent gap in participation among Black men and why it has real consequences for outcomes. Despite major advances in treatment, Black men continue to face significantly higher diagnosis and mortality rates. Yet, they remain underrepresented in clinical trials—often making up just 4–6% of participants. That gap limits what we truly understand about how treatments perform across populations. Richard Lee, MD, PhD, Clinical Co-Director of The Claire and John Bertucci Center for Genitourinary Cancers at Mass General Cancer Center addresses the increased prostate cancer mortality among African American men What You’ll Learn: • The disparity in prostate cancer outcomes and why it persists • Why clinical trials should be offered throughout the patient journey, not as a last resort • Real-world data showing Black patients may respond just as well or better to certain therapies • Structural barriers in trial design, including eligibility criteria and access challenges • Practical ways investigators and institutions can improve inclusion and equity Key takeaway: Clinical trials aren’t separate from care, they are care. Expanding access and representation isn’t just about fairness; it’s about delivering better, more effective treatment for everyone.