Discussion on “A Hybrid Selection and Testing Procedure with Curtailment in Comparative Clinical Trials” by Elena M. Buzaianu and Pinyuen Chen

Abstract

This article provides a review of the important article by Buzaianu and Chen, appearing in this issue. While their recommended procedure is of interest, there are several practical considerations that would detract clinical trialists from applying these procedures. Six concerns are mentioned, including the definition of “correct selection” as finding a treatment truly superior to the control, continuation of the control therapy even after it was found to be inferior to an active treatment, and elimination of active treatments without definitive evidence it is inferior to other active treatments.

Keywords:

• Curtailment
• Multiple comparison
• Sequential design

Subject Classifications:

• 62P10
• 62F07
• 62F03

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was partially supported by grant M01 RR00082 from the National Center for Research Resources, NIH.

Notes

Recommended by Nitis Mukhopadhyay