Reflections on medical oncology: 25 years of clinical trials--where have we come and where are we going?

Twenty-five years ago in the first issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology, Tannock and Murphy appealed for better design and improved reporting of clinical trials in oncology, and proposed five areas in which journals and investigators could improve the quality of clinical cancer research. As shown in Figure 1, these recommendations pertain to three inter-related themes: appropriate design and size of trials, the selection of clinically relevant end points, and reporting that is free of bias. In this Silver Anniversary issue, we reflect on how well the evolution of clinical trials has adhered to these principles during the last 25 years.

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