Quick Poll results from the June Issue of OncoFacts 2008

What percentage of new treatments tested in NCI-funded Phase III randomized controlled trials from 1995 to 2000 were successful compared to standard treatment?

Discussion

Correct Answer: B – 25-50% 

Dr Benjamin Djulbegovic and colleagues have published a systematic evaluation of new, experimental cancer treatments that were evaluated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs).1 They wanted to understand the percentage of these new therapies that were successful in evaluation compared to standard therapies. The group extracted data from 624 phase III RCT involving 216,451 patients that were conducted through the NCI cooperative group mechanism between 1955 and 2000.

Thirty percent of the results were statistically significant and of these, 20% favored the standard treatment, and 80% favored the experimental arm. Seventy percent did not reach statistical significance with half of these showing inconclusive findings, 19% with findings showing it highly unlikely that the standard therapy was superior, and 27% with findings showing it highly unlikely that the experimental therapy was superior.

To address subtle issues from trials such as improvements in quality of life where there was no improvement in survival, the authors evaluated the published investigators’ judgments regarding the outcome. Investigators found that 41% of the new and promising therapies were superior to the standard comparator.

Finally, the authors suggested that 25-50% of new treatments being evaluated in NCI-sponsored phase III RCT from 1955 to 2000 were successful.

Reference

1.      Djulbegovic B, Kumar A, Soares HP, et al. Treatment success in cancer: new cancer treatment successes identified in phase 3 randomized controlled trials conducted by the National Cancer Institute-sponsored cooperative oncology groups, 1955 to 2006. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(6):632-642.

* The aggregate results from this question were compiled from the responses submitted by oncologists who participated in the OncoFacts Quick Poll monthly question.