Statistics in Oncology Series
Biomarker Discovery and Validation: Statistical Considerations
Biomarkers have various applications including disease detection, diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of response to intervention, and disease monitoring. In this era of precision medicine, having validated biomarkers to inform clinical decision making is more important than ever. In this article, we discuss best the practices and potential issues in biomarker discovery and validation. We encourage team science partnerships to bring cutting-edge discovery from bench to bedside, leading to improved patient care and outcomes.Principles of Good Clinical Trial Design
Clinical trials are a fundamental component of medical research and serve as the main route to obtain evidence of the safety and efficacy of treatment before its approval. A trial’s ability to provide the intended evidence hinges on appropriate design, background knowledge, trial rationale to sample size, and interim monitoring rules. In this article, we present some general design principles for investigators and their research teams to consider when planning to conduct a trial.
