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Paratore C, Zichi C, Audisio M, Bungaro M, Caglio A, Di Liello R, Gamba T, Gargiulo P, Mariniello A, Reale M, Perrone F, Di Maio M. Subgroup analyses in randomized phase III trials of systemic treatments in patients with advanced solid tumours: a systematic review of trials published between 2017 and 2020. ESMO Open 2022; 7:100593. [PMID: 36228332 PMCID: PMC9808470 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subgroup analyses of randomized controlled trials are very common in oncology; nevertheless, the methodological approach has not been systematically evaluated. The present analysis was conducted with the aim of describing the prevalence and methodological characteristics of the subgroup analyses in randomized controlled trials in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS A systematic literature search using PubMed was carried out to identify all phase III randomized controlled trials conducted in adult patients affected by locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours, published between 2017 and 2020. RESULTS Overall, 253 publications were identified. Subgroup analyses were reported in 217 (86%) publications. A statistically significant association of presence of subgroup analysis with study sponsor was observed: subgroup analyses were reported in 157 (94%) for-profit trials compared with 60 (70%) non-profit trials (P < 0.001). Description of the methodology of subgroup analysis was completely lacking in 82 trials (38%), only cited without methodological details in 100 trials (46%) and fully described in 35 trials (16%). Forest plot of subgroup analyses for the primary endpoint was available in 195 publications (77%). Among publications with reported forest plots, the median number of subgroups for primary endpoint was 19 (range 6-78). Out of the 217 publications with subgroup analyses, authors discuss the heterogeneity of treatment effect among different subgroups in 173 publications (80%), although a formal test for interaction for subgroup analysis of primary endpoint was reported for at least one variable only in 60 publications (28%). Correction for multiplicity was explicitly carried out only in nine trials (4%). CONCLUSIONS The very high prevalence of subgroup analyses in published papers, together with their methodological weaknesses, makes advisable an adequate education about their correct presentation and correct reading. More attention about proper planning and conduction of subgroup analysis should be paid not only by readers, but also by authors, journal editors and reviewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Paratore
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy,Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - C. Zichi
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - M. Audisio
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - M. Bungaro
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - A. Caglio
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - R. Di Liello
- Clinical Trials Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori – IRCCS – Fondazione Giovanni Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - T. Gamba
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - P. Gargiulo
- Clinical Trials Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori – IRCCS – Fondazione Giovanni Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - A. Mariniello
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy,Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - M.L. Reale
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - F. Perrone
- Clinical Trials Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori – IRCCS – Fondazione Giovanni Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - M. Di Maio
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy,Correspondence to: Prof. Massimo Di Maio, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Division of Medical Oncology, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Via Magellano 1, Turin 10128, Italy. Tel: +39-011-5082032 @MassimoDiMaio75
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Cantini L, Mentrasti G, Lo Russo G, Signorelli D, Pasello G, Rijavec E, Russano M, Antonuzzo L, Rocco D, Giusti R, Adamo V, Genova C, Tuzi A, Morabito A, Gori S, La Verde N, Chiari R, Cortellini A, Cognigni V, Pecci F, Indini A, De Toma A, Zattarin E, Oresti S, Pizzutilo E, Frega S, Erbetta E, Galletti A, Citarella F, Fancelli S, Caliman E, Della Gravara L, Malapelle U, Filetti M, Piras M, Toscano G, Zullo L, De Tursi M, Di Marino P, D’Emilio V, Cona M, Guida A, Caglio A, Salerno F, Spinelli G, Bennati C, Morgillo F, Russo A, Dellepiane C, Vallini I, Sforza V, Inno A, Rastelli F, Tassi V, Nicolardi L, Pensieri M, Emili R, Roca E, Migliore A, Galassi T, Rocchi M, Berardi R. Erratum to ‘Evaluation of COVID-19 impact on DELAYing diagnostic-therapeutic pathways of lung cancer patients in Italy (COVID-DELAY study): fewer cases and higher stages from a real-world scenario’. ESMO Open 2022; 7:100471. [PMID: 35378403 PMCID: PMC8973259 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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Cantini L, Mentrasti G, Russo GL, Signorelli D, Pasello G, Rijavec E, Russano M, Antonuzzo L, Rocco D, Giusti R, Adamo V, Genova C, Tuzi A, Morabito A, Gori S, Verde NL, Chiari R, Cortellini A, Cognigni V, Pecci F, Indini A, De Toma A, Zattarin E, Oresti S, Pizzutilo EG, Frega S, Erbetta E, Galletti A, Citarella F, Fancelli S, Caliman E, Della Gravara L, Malapelle U, Filetti M, Piras M, Toscano G, Zullo L, De Tursi M, Di Marino P, D'Emilio V, Cona MS, Guida A, Caglio A, Salerno F, Spinelli G, Bennati C, Morgillo F, Russo A, Dellepiane C, Vallini I, Sforza V, Inno A, Rastelli F, Tassi V, Nicolardi L, Pensieri V, Emili R, Roca E, Migliore A, Galassi T, Rocchi MLB, Berardi R. Evaluation of COVID-19 impact on DELAYing diagnostic-therapeutic pathways of lung cancer patients in Italy (COVID-DELAY study): fewer cases and higher stages from a real-world scenario. ESMO Open 2022; 7:100406. [PMID: 35219245 PMCID: PMC8810307 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction COVID-19 has disrupted the global health care system since March 2020. Lung cancer (LC) patients (pts) represent a vulnerable population highly affected by the pandemic. This multicenter Italian study aimed to evaluate whether the COVID-19 outbreak had an impact on access to cancer diagnosis and treatment of LC pts compared with pre-pandemic time. Methods Consecutive newly diagnosed LC pts referred to 25 Italian Oncology Departments between March and December 2020 were included. Access rate and temporal intervals between date of symptoms onset and diagnostic and therapeutic services were compared with the same period in 2019. Differences between the 2 years were analyzed using the chi-square test for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables. Results A slight reduction (−6.9%) in newly diagnosed LC cases was observed in 2020 compared with 2019 (1523 versus 1637, P = 0.09). Newly diagnosed LC pts in 2020 were more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV disease (P < 0.01) and to be current smokers (someone who has smoked more than 100 cigarettes, including hand-rolled cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, in their lifetime and has smoked in the last 28 days) (P < 0.01). The drop in terms of new diagnoses was greater in the lockdown period (percentage drop −12% versus −3.2%) compared with the other months included. More LC pts were referred to a low/medium volume hospital in 2020 compared with 2019 (P = 0.01). No differences emerged in terms of interval between symptoms onset and radiological diagnosis (P = 0.94), symptoms onset and cytohistological diagnosis (P = 0.92), symptoms onset and treatment start (P = 0.40), and treatment start and first radiological revaluation (P = 0.36). Conclusions Our study pointed out a reduction of new diagnoses with a shift towards higher stage at diagnosis for LC pts in 2020. Despite this, the measures adopted by Italian Oncology Departments ensured the maintenance of the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways of LC pts. The COVID-19 outbreak had an impact on access to lung cancer (LC) diagnosis and treatment. A slight reduction (−6.9%) in newly diagnosed LC cases was observed in 2020 compared with 2019. Newly diagnosed LC pts in 2020 were more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV disease. The Italian Oncology Departments ensured the maintenance of the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways of LC pts. A reverse migration from high-volume to low-volume cancer centers was noted during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cantini
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy. https://twitter.com/LucaCantiniMD
| | - G Mentrasti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - G L Russo
- Oncologia Medica 1, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - D Signorelli
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - G Pasello
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - E Rijavec
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - M Russano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - L Antonuzzo
- Medical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - D Rocco
- Department of Pulmonology and Oncology, AORN dei Colli Monaldi, Naples, Italy
| | - R Giusti
- UOC Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Sant'Andrea, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - V Adamo
- Oncologia Medica, A.O.Papardo & Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - C Genova
- UOC Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - A Tuzi
- Oncologia Medica, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
| | - A Morabito
- Thoracic Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G Pascale", IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - S Gori
- UOC Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - N La Verde
- Department of Oncology, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - R Chiari
- Medical Oncology, Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud, Monselice, Italy
| | - A Cortellini
- Medical Oncology, St Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - V Cognigni
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - F Pecci
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - A Indini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - A De Toma
- Oncologia Medica 1, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - E Zattarin
- Oncologia Medica 1, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - S Oresti
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - E G Pizzutilo
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - S Frega
- Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - E Erbetta
- Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - A Galletti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - F Citarella
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - S Fancelli
- Medical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - E Caliman
- Medical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - L Della Gravara
- Dipartment of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - U Malapelle
- Department of Public Health, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - M Filetti
- UOC Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Sant'Andrea, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - M Piras
- UOC Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Sant'Andrea, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - G Toscano
- Oncologia Medica, A.O.Papardo, Messina, Italy
| | - L Zullo
- UOC Oncologia Medica 2, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - M De Tursi
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, Università G. D'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - P Di Marino
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, Università G. D'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - V D'Emilio
- UOC Pneumologia, Ospedale Mazzoni, Ascoli Piceno, Italy
| | - M S Cona
- Department of Oncology, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - A Guida
- Oncologia Medica e Traslazionale, AO Santa Maria, Terni, Italy
| | - A Caglio
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - F Salerno
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - G Spinelli
- UOC Territorial Oncology, University "Sapienza", AUSL Latina, Cds Aprilia, Aprilia, Italy
| | - C Bennati
- Department of Onco-Hematology, AUSL della Romagna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - F Morgillo
- UOC Oncologia ed Ematologia, Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - A Russo
- Oncologia Medica, A.O.Papardo, Messina, Italy
| | - C Dellepiane
- UOC Oncologia Medica 2, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - I Vallini
- Oncologia Medica, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
| | - V Sforza
- Thoracic Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G Pascale", IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - A Inno
- UOC Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - F Rastelli
- UOC Oncologia, Ospedale Mazzoni, Ascoli Piceno, Italy
| | - V Tassi
- Chirurgia Toracica, AO Santa Maria, Terni, Italy
| | - L Nicolardi
- Medical Oncology, Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud, Monselice, Italy
| | - V Pensieri
- Medical Oncology, St Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - R Emili
- Operative Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, Pesaro, Italy
| | - E Roca
- Thoracic Oncology - Lung Unit, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera Del Garda, Italy
| | - A Migliore
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - T Galassi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - M L Bruno Rocchi
- Biomolecular Sciences Department, University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - R Berardi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy.
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