Identical chemotherapy schedules given on and off trial protocol in small cell lung cancer response and survival results
2002

Chemotherapy Schedules in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Sample size: 106 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Burgers J A, Arance A, Ashcroft L, Hodgetts J, Lomax L, Thatcher N

Primary Institution: University Hospital Rotterdam, Department of Pulmonary Diseases

Hypothesis

Do patients treated within a trial protocol have better survival than those treated off study?

Conclusion

The study found no significant difference in survival between patients treated on trial and those treated off trial with the same chemotherapy regimen.

Supporting Evidence

  • The median survival for all patients was 345 days.
  • Patients treated on trial had a median survival of 346 days, while those off trial had 330 days.
  • The study included 106 patients treated with the same chemotherapy regimen.

Takeaway

This study looked at patients with lung cancer and found that being in a clinical trial didn't help them live longer compared to those who weren't in the trial but got the same treatment.

Methodology

The study reviewed the records of patients treated with CDE chemotherapy at Christie Hospital and compared survival data of those treated on and off trial.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to reasons for not entering the trial.

Limitations

The study was retrospective and had a limited number of patients.

Participant Demographics

Patients treated on and off trial did not differ significantly in demographic and prognostic factors.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6600433

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