Evaluation of novel treatments through clinical trials remains the backbone of oncological clinical research, but only a minor portion have been tested in Phase III trials. The continued publication of underpowered trials provides an ongoing need for meta-analyses to detect clinically significant outcomes. Although tumor relapse and survival are important issues and easily measured outcomes in trials, they are often not the most relevant indicators for treatment success. As diagnostic technologies and treatments continue to advance, methodologies defining high quality studies have been established, but still enthusiasm to adopt novel technologies that leads to studies holding well-described bias that do not aid the rational use of the studied test. Global awareness of such bias and standard research methodology is the clue toward iconic studies giving rational supporting novel cancer treatments and patients’ support.

通过临床试验评估新疗法仍然是肿瘤临床研究的支柱，但只有一小部分在 III 期试验中进行了测试。效力不足的试验的持续发表提供了对荟萃分析的持续需求，以检测具有临床意义的结果。尽管肿瘤复发和生存是重要的问题，并且在试验中很容易衡量结果，但它们通常不是治疗成功的最相关指标。随着诊断技术和治疗的不断进步，已经建立了定义高质量研究的方法，但仍然热衷于采用新技术，这导致研究存在明确描述的偏见，这些偏见无助于合理使用所研究的测试。