Abstract
We discuss the advantages and limitations of group sequential methods for monitoring clinical trials data. We describe a Bayesian approach, based upon the use of sceptical prior distributions, that avoids some of the limitations of group sequential methods. We illustrate its use with data from a trial of levamisole plus 5-Fluorouracil for colorectal cancer.
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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Bayes Theorem*
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Bias
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Clinical Trials as Topic / statistics & numerical data*
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Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
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Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
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Data Interpretation, Statistical*
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Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Levamisole / therapeutic use
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Neoplasm Staging
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Proportional Hazards Models
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Survival Analysis
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Survival Rate