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Sample size for biomarker studies: more subjects or more measurements per subject?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lai, D; King, TM; Moyé, LA; Wei, Q
Published in: Ann Epidemiol
March 2003

PURPOSE: In molecular epidemiologic studies, optimizing the use of available biological specimens while minimizing the cost is always a challenge. This is particularly true in pilot studies, which often have limited funding and involve small numbers of biological samples too small for assessment of recently developed biomarkers. METHODS: In this study we examined several statistical approaches for determining how many experimental subjects to use in a biomarker study and how many repeated measurements to make on each sample, given specific funding considerations and the correlated nature of the repeated measurements. RESULTS: A molecular epidemiology study of DNA repair and aging in basal cell carcinoma was used to illustrate the application of the statistical methods proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Our methods extend traditional designs on biomarker studies with repeated measurements to including funding constraints.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ann Epidemiol

DOI

ISSN

1047-2797

Publication Date

March 2003

Volume

13

Issue

3

Start / End Page

204 / 208

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sample Size
  • Research Design
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Epidemiology
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • DNA Repair
  • Cost Control
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Lai, D., King, T. M., Moyé, L. A., & Wei, Q. (2003). Sample size for biomarker studies: more subjects or more measurements per subject? Ann Epidemiol, 13(3), 204–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1047-2797(02)00261-2
Lai, Dejian, Terri M. King, Lemuel A. Moyé, and Qingyi Wei. “Sample size for biomarker studies: more subjects or more measurements per subject?Ann Epidemiol 13, no. 3 (March 2003): 204–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1047-2797(02)00261-2.
Lai D, King TM, Moyé LA, Wei Q. Sample size for biomarker studies: more subjects or more measurements per subject? Ann Epidemiol. 2003 Mar;13(3):204–8.
Lai, Dejian, et al. “Sample size for biomarker studies: more subjects or more measurements per subject?Ann Epidemiol, vol. 13, no. 3, Mar. 2003, pp. 204–08. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s1047-2797(02)00261-2.
Lai D, King TM, Moyé LA, Wei Q. Sample size for biomarker studies: more subjects or more measurements per subject? Ann Epidemiol. 2003 Mar;13(3):204–208.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ann Epidemiol

DOI

ISSN

1047-2797

Publication Date

March 2003

Volume

13

Issue

3

Start / End Page

204 / 208

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sample Size
  • Research Design
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Epidemiology
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • DNA Repair
  • Cost Control
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell