Treatment Disease Trial starting date versus end of the enrolment versus date of publication DSMC Primary end point versus end point used in interim analysis Planned versus interim sample size Rationale for planning interim analysis Interim analysis consequences Control group Melphalan + prednisone + thalidomidea Multiple Myeloma May 2000 versus August 2005 versu...

Discussion and Conclusions The number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in oncology that are being prematurely halted for supposed benefit is on the rise. Our analysis reveals a consistent increase—more than 50%—in the proportion of cancer trials terminated early in the past three years, compared to the broader period from 1997 to 2007. Ethical considerations play a significant role in ...