Article Reports Tendency of Investigators to Underreport Side Effects of Chemo in Clinical Trials
In an article in the Annals of Oncology, Ian Tannock and colleagues from Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto report on the tendency of investigators to underreport the side effects of chemotherapy in randomized clinical trials in breast cancer with positive results. The authors also note the tendency of investigators to emphasize secondary endpoints when a trial fails to meet a primary endpoint. The authors note the limitations of their analysis of breast cancer trials but still make recommendations about clinical trials reporting. The authors state, “ Clinicians, reviewers, journal editors and regulators should apply a critical eye to trial reports and be wary of the possibility of biased reporting. Guidelines are necessary to improve the reporting of both efficacy and toxicity.”
