The increasing cancer burden is a major health concern in Arab countries with cross-regional variations in cancer profiles. Given the limited oncology research output and scarce data on cancer trial participation in the Arab region, this study explored the therapeutic cancer trial landscape in Arab countries over the past 20 years. A bibliometric analysis of the PubMed database was conducted on primary publications of therapeutic trials with a participating Arab center. Arab countries participated in 320 published cancer-related therapeutic trials (2000–2021). During this period, there was a consistent increase in the number of trials, sample size, multiregional site participation, and number of randomized trials. However, most trials were small, did not receive external funding, and included a single Arab site. Compared with Arab-only trials, trials with joint non-Arab sites were larger (p= 0.003) and more likely to be externally funded (p< 0.001). Citation numbers and journal impact factors were higher in trial publications with joint non-Arab authorship than those without (p< 0.001, for both). Despite improving conduct and publication records of oncology trials with Arab centers, cancer trial participation remains limited in Arab countries. Concerted efforts are required to encourage sponsorship and international collaboration in this region.
癌症负担日益加重是阿拉伯国家面临的主要健康问题，且不同地区的癌症谱存在差异。鉴于阿拉伯地区肿瘤学研究产出有限且癌症临床试验参与数据匮乏，本研究旨在探讨过去20年间阿拉伯国家治疗性癌症临床试验的整体状况。本研究对PubMed数据库中阿拉伯中心参与的治疗性试验原始文献进行了文献计量学分析。结果显示，2000年至2021年间阿拉伯国家共参与了320项已发表的癌症相关治疗试验。在此期间，试验数量、样本量、多区域中心参与度以及随机试验数量均呈现持续增长态势。然而，大多数试验规模较小，未获得外部资助，且仅包含单个阿拉伯试验中心。与纯阿拉伯国家试验相比，与非阿拉伯国家联合开展的试验规模更大（p=0.003），获得外部资助的可能性更高（p<0.001）。与非阿拉伯作者联合署名的试验文献，其被引频次和期刊影响因子均显著高于无国际合作的文献（两者p值均<0.001）。尽管阿拉伯中心参与的肿瘤学试验在实施和发表记录方面有所改善，但阿拉伯国家的癌症试验参与度仍然有限。需要协同努力以鼓励该地区的试验资助和国际合作。
Arab Countries and Oncology Clinical Trials: A Bibliometric Analysis
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家