Approaching clinical problems in prostate cancer radiotherapy using the number needed to treat (NNT) technique.
The goals of this article are to review the application of the number needed to treat (NNT) concept to selected clinical problems in prostate cancer radiotherapy. Particular emphasis will be placed on (1) comparison of radiotherapy with other treatment options for early-stage disease, (2) the role of hormone therapy in addition to radiotherapy over a spectrum of disease presentation, and (3) systematic comparison of adjuvant versus salvage radiotherapy in the post-prostatectomy setting. Limitations of NNT calculations based on non-randomized comparisons also are discussed.
Jani
Ashesh B
AB
The Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. jani@rover.uchicago.edu
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D018401:Sample Size
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal