ASCO Weighs in on CER

September 2010, Vol 1, No 4

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) stated that comparative effectiveness research (CER) should draw on approaches currently used for clinical trials, highlighting its stake in the matter by pointing out that CER is integral to oncology research. ASCO’s statement came in response to a request from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for information on developing an inventory of CER.

“The extensive federally funded clinical trials network is a gold standard for CER,” wrote ASCO President George W. Sledge, Jr, MD, in a letter dated August 9, 2010.

The letter pushes for a single repository containing links to the many types of studies that will be used in CER. Such a repository would foster awareness in the research community of trials under way. As with the ClinicalTrials.gov website, CER studies should be registered at their outset, which would guard against publication bias.

In addition, withholding of federal funds until the time of registration could be used as an incentive for participation, Dr Sledge wrote.

The HHS should also stratify studies based on design, and indicate whether data were peer reviewed, so that users can evaluate the strength of the evidence, Dr Sledge stated.

Sustaining CER efforts over time is also essential, the ASCO president wrote. “Linking the inventory to thenewly created Patient-Centered Outcomes Re search [PCOR] Institute may be one method to enable sustainability,” said Dr Sledge. The PCOR Institute has dedicated funding and incorporates a public–private partnership, attributes that “may create more buy-in among stakeholders in the research community.”

Finally, the letter urges that the CER inventory should be delayed until the HHS receives input and feedback from the PCOR Institute’s Board of Governors and Methodology Committee.

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