Prostate cancer advocates have called for the establishment of fair and equitable incentives to enhance participation in clinical trials across Africa.
Clinical trials, which assess the safety and efficacy of new medical treatments, remain a critical pathway to improving outcomes – yet participation among African men remains disproportionately low.
The appeal was made during the inaugural Science of Advanced Prostate Cancer in Africa (SoAPCA) Conference in Lagos. The consortium-led initiative was supported by the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC), Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (iCCaRE) Consortium, Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium (PCCTC), and the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3).
Under the theme “Addressing Advanced Prostate Cancer in Africa Through Inclusive Clinical Trials”, the conference convened researchers, clinicians, policymakers, survivors and advocates from across the continent — including Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Benin, Togo and Nigeria.
Delegates from Nigerian universities and teaching hospitals in Maiduguri, Ilorin, Calabar, Ogun, Lagos, Enugu and Port Harcourt contributed to workshops and panel discussions aimed at improving clinical outcomes.
On the persistent gaps in trial participation, prostate cancer survivor and advocate Dennis Olise emphasised that trust, respect and relevance must underpin engagement strategies.
He argued that covering transport, meals and lost income for participants should be considered essential, not optional.
“If researchers and clinicians are remunerated for their expertise, then participants and advocates — whose contributions are equally indispensable — deserve similar recognition. We are not mere data points; we are experts in living with this disease’, Olise stated.
Fellow survivor Mr Leo Adejoro highlighted the role of stigma, fear and cultural misconceptions in deterring men from engaging with clinical research.
He said: ‘Some still perceive prostate cancer as a death sentence or a spiritual affliction, which discourages them from seeking medical intervention. We must confront the silence, the shame and the myths. Education, coupled with appropriate incentives, will encourage more men to undergo screening and participate in trials that could ultimately save lives’..
Despite bearing the highest global burden of prostate cancer, black men remain significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. Experts at the conference cited data showing that only 6.7% of participants in prostate cancer treatment studies are black, with screening trial participation as low as 0.5%’.
Delegates referenced international models such as the PATHFINDER proposal in the United States, which advocates for tax credits and direct payments to trial participants. They considered that a potential frameworks for adaptation in African contexts.
They also called for culturally sensitive outreach through churches, mosques and community centres to dismantle stigma and misinformation.
The conference made a unified call for policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders to develop sustainable, locally relevant frameworks that prioritise inclusivity and fairness.
Olise reiterated: ‘Incentives are not about coercion. They are about equity, dignity and giving African men a fighting chance against prostate cancer’.
