Introduction to session on undue and disproportionate influences

Excerpt

The session on undue and disproportionate influences included three presentations that considered areas of profound importance for investigators involved with breast cancer research. The first two presentations focused on areas that substantially impact the interpretation of scientific research, peer review and the topic of statistical significance. Clearly, both these topics have an importance that extends beyond breast cancer to all research. The third presentation considered whether randomized adjuvant therapy trials in early breast cancer were necessary for drug development, which is a topic of increasing importance given the increasing number of potentially valuable drugs that are in development and the corresponding increase in restrictions and limitations on funding available for the conduct of clinical research. …