A phase I dose escalation of combination chemotherapy with granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor in patients with neuroblastoma

How to Deal with Interval-Censored Data Practically while Assessing the Progression-Free Survival: A Step-by-Step Guide Using SAS and R Software

We describe how to estimate progression-free survival while dealing with interval-censored data in the setting of clinical trials in oncology. Three procedures with SAS and R statistical software are described: one allowing for a nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation of the survival curve using the EM-ICM (Expectation and Maximization-Iterative Convex Minorant) algorithm as described by Wellner and Zhan in 1997; a sensitivity analysis procedure in which the progression time is assigned (i) at the midpoint, (ii) at the upper limit (reflecting the standard analysis when the progression time is assigned at the first radiologic exam showing progressive disease), or (iii) at the lower limit of the censoring interval; and finally, two multiple imputations are described considering a uniform or the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation (NPMLE) distribution. Clin Cancer Res; 22(23); 5629-35. ©2016 AACR.

Clinical applications of hematopoietic growth factors in pediatric oncology

Myeloid growth factors are widely used in both pediatric and adult oncology. Although the literature supporting the use of growth factors in pediatric oncology is less extensive than the adult literature, some uses are clearly established. Both granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor shorten the duration of febrile neutropenia after myelosuppressive chemotherapy, effectively mobilize hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation, and enhance neutrophil engraftment after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although some open-label, uncontrolled trials and retrospective analyses support growth factor use to ameliorate the number of infections, duration of hospitalizations, and duration of intravenous antibiotic use after myelosuppressive chemotherapy or to enhance dose intensity, randomized controlled trials supporting these practices are lacking.