Implications of quality adjusted survival for clinical trials in radiation oncology.
Clinical trials in radiotherapy sometimes compare changes in radiation dose distribution using different radiation techniques. The use of quality adjusted survival can, in special circumstances, reduce the requirement of large patient numbers in order to show a significant difference in overall outcome. The provisos are that marginal improvements in survival or tumour control endpoints and a reduction in toxicity scores are present. The converse findings would also be amenable to this approach. Random sampling methods are used to construct a patient population where the first set of conditions is met. Further work is necessary to refine the absolute indications for this technique.
Birmingham Cancer Centre, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK.
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D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011786:Quality Control; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome