This article is sponsored by Pfizer.
For many Black families, conversations about serious illnesses like lung cancer often happen too late. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. While it affects people from all backgrounds, it is more common in Black communities.
Black Americans face a unique and often overlooked burden when it comes to lung cancer. Black men have the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality rate among all races and ethnicities. We’re often diagnosed at later stages and experience lower survival rates. Lung cancer disparities exist, and they highlight a deeper issue surrounding representation in clinical research.
Understanding Lung Cancer in the Black Community
Although lung cancer has long been associated with smoking, environmental exposures and underlying health conditions also play a role. Systemic barriers, such as limited access to early screening, can also delay diagnosis and treatment.
As a result, research shows that people of color are often diagnosed at more advanced stages of lung cancer, when the disease is harder to treat. At the same time, while clinical research helps guide the development of potential new medicines, people of color are underrepresented in research.
This matters because when research doesn’t fully reflect the diversity of the people most affected, it can leave important questions unanswered about how treatments work across different populations.
Why Clinical Trials Matter
Clinical trials are carefully designed research studies that help scientists better understand diseases and evaluate potential new treatments. They are a key part of how new medical treatments are developed, not just for lung cancer, but for many conditions.
Every medication available today went through the clinical trial process before becoming widely available. Clinical research studies help answer important questions, such as:
- How safe is a potential treatment?
- How well does it work?
- Are there differences in how different groups of people respond?
For the answers to these questions to truly reflect real-world communities, diverse participation is essential.
The Importance of Representation in Research
When certain groups are left out of clinical trials:
- Researchers may miss important differences in how treatments work across different populations
- Potential new therapies may not be fully tested in the communities most affected by certain cancers
- Health disparities can widen, as treatments are developed without inclusive data
When we’re underrepresented in clinical trials, it limits what researchers can learn about how diseases and potential treatments impact our community.
Representation in research helps ensure research findings can be applied to diverse communities and identify differences in treatment responses.
Diverse participation in cancer clinical trials is both necessary and achievable. Inclusive research practices are essential to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be represented.
Can I Really Trust the Clinical Research Process?
It’s important to acknowledge that medical mistrust in the Black community is rooted in real historical and ongoing inequities. For many, the idea of joining a clinical trial can raise questions about safety and transparency. Building trust starts with honest conversations and access to clear, accurate information.
Today, clinical trials are guided by strict ethical standards designed to protect participants, including the following:
- Informed consent so participants understand the study before joining
- Independent review boards that oversee the study to ensure participants’ rights, safety, and well-being are protected
- Ongoing monitoring to track safety throughout the study
Participants also have the right to leave a clinical trial at any time, for any reason.
Moving Toward More Inclusive Research
For individuals and families affected by lung cancer, learning about clinical trials can be one way to better understand all available options. For care partners and loved ones, it can open the door to more informed decision-making.
Events like the Harlem Summit are helping create space for these conversations, bringing together community members, health experts, and advocates to talk openly about health equity and access.
Where to Learn More
Understanding why representation in clinical research matters is an important step toward making empowered health decisions.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by lung cancer, or you’re simply interested in learning more about clinical research, resources are available to help you explore your options.
Want to understand more about clinical trials for lung cancer? Click here to learn more.
References:
American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Lung Cancer
Ashfaq H, Ashraf H, Nadeem A, Nadeem ZA, Akram U, Saleh A. Racial disparities in lung cancer mortalities in the United States: A retrospective analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026 Jan 16;105(3):e47178. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000047178
American Lung Association. Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Moreland K, Butsch Kovacic M, Rai S, Sohal D. Disparities in Clinical Trial Participation: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Cancer Patients at a Midwest Academic Medical Center. Curr Oncol. 2024;31(9):5367-5373. doi:10.3390/curroncol31090396