title: Does Cancer Literature Reflect Multidisciplinary Practice? A Systematic Review of Oncology Studies in the Medical Literature Over a 20-Year Period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quality cancer care is best delivered through a multidisciplinary approach requiring awareness of current evidence for all oncologic specialties. The highest impact journals often disseminate such information, so the distribution and characteristics of oncology studies by primary intervention (local therapies, systemic therapies, and targeted agents) were evaluated in 10 high-impact journals over a 20-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles published in 1994, 2004, and 2014 in New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, Annals of Surgical Oncology, and European Journal of Surgical Oncology were identified. Included studies were prospectively conducted and evaluated a therapeutic intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 960 studies were included: 240 (25%) investigated local therapies, 551 (57.4%) investigated systemic therapies, and 169 (17.6%) investigated targeted therapies. More local therapy trials (n=185 [77.1%]) evaluated definitive, primary treatment than systemic (n=178 [32.3%]) or targeted therapy trials (n=38 [22.5%]; P<.001). Local therapy trials (n=16 [6.7%]) also had significantly lower rates of industry funding than systemic (n=207 [37.6%]) and targeted therapy trials (n=129 [76.3%]; P<.001). Targeted therapy trials represented 5 (2%), 38 (10.2%), and 126 (38%) of those published in 1994, 2004, and 2014, respectively (P<.001), and industry-funded 48 (18.9%), 122 (32.6%), and 182 (54.8%) trials, respectively (P<.001). Compared to publication of systemic therapy trial articles, articles investigating local therapy (odds ratio: 0.025 [95% confidence interval: 0.012-0.048]; P<.001) were less likely to be found in high-impact general medical journals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fewer studies evaluating local therapies, such as surgery and radiation, are published in high-impact oncology and medicine literature. Further research and attention are necessary to guide efforts promoting appropriate representation of all oncology studies in high-impact, broad-readership journals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Emma B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Holliday
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors.forename: Awad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Stella K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jagsi
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: KHoffman1@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015706:Bibliometrics; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D033181:Information Dissemination; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D011642:Publications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal