OBJECTIVES: To describe the location of treatment, recruitment to clinical trials and outcomes for adolescents and young adults treated for cancer in Victoria. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review of all adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years diagnosed with cancer between 1992 and 1996, identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treatment regimen (clinical trial, treatment protocol or neither), compliance with treatment and 5-year survival. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed for 576 of 665 eligible adolescents and young adults (87% response rate). Recruitment into clinical trials decreased with increasing age. Adolescents aged 10-19 years were more likely to be recruited to a clinical trial if treated at a paediatric hospital. For all cancers, 5-year survival was similar across the age groups and was not influenced by the place of treatment. Only 1% of adolescents and young adults failed to complete planned therapy due to non-compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a similar incidence of cancer to that in younger children, adolescents and young adults with cancer are poorly recruited into clinical trials in Victoria. Establishment of a cancer resource network in Victoria may provide information to both paediatric and adult oncologists about currently available clinical trials.