Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Methodological challenges in the evaluation of prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Altman, DG; Lyman, GH
Published in: Breast Cancer Res Treat
1998

Many studies are carried out in an effort to find factors that help explain the large unexplained variation in prognosis of breast cancer patients. The principles of good study design and analysis are less well appreciated for prognostic factor studies than for therapeutic trials. The oncology literature is full of results from studies of varying quality, often with conflicting findings. As a consequence, despite the large number of studies, there is still uncertainty about the importance of most prognostic factors. Few recently proposed prognostic factors for breast cancer have become widely accepted. This paper reviews the important methodological issues underlying such research. These issues are illustrated with examples from published studies and recent reviews of papers published in cancer journals. Guidelines are proposed for conducting and evaluating prognostic factor studies which should improve the quality of research in this important area.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Breast Cancer Res Treat

DOI

ISSN

0167-6806

Publication Date

1998

Volume

52

Issue

1-3

Start / End Page

289 / 303

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Sample Size
  • Research Design
  • Regression Analysis
  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Altman, D. G., & Lyman, G. H. (1998). Methodological challenges in the evaluation of prognostic factors in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 52(1–3), 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1006193704132
Altman, D. G., and G. H. Lyman. “Methodological challenges in the evaluation of prognostic factors in breast cancer.Breast Cancer Res Treat 52, no. 1–3 (1998): 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1006193704132.
Altman DG, Lyman GH. Methodological challenges in the evaluation of prognostic factors in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 1998;52(1–3):289–303.
Altman, D. G., and G. H. Lyman. “Methodological challenges in the evaluation of prognostic factors in breast cancer.Breast Cancer Res Treat, vol. 52, no. 1–3, 1998, pp. 289–303. Pubmed, doi:10.1023/a:1006193704132.
Altman DG, Lyman GH. Methodological challenges in the evaluation of prognostic factors in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 1998;52(1–3):289–303.
Journal cover image

Published In

Breast Cancer Res Treat

DOI

ISSN

0167-6806

Publication Date

1998

Volume

52

Issue

1-3

Start / End Page

289 / 303

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Sample Size
  • Research Design
  • Regression Analysis
  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis