For Immediate Release From Taylor & Francis Special Article in…

For Immediate Release
From Taylor & Francis



 Special Article in Sequential Analysis Inspires Discussion Among Peers


        In the special invited paper titled Second Guessing Clinical Trial Designs, authors

Jonathan J. Shuster and Myron N. Chang of the University of Florida "propose a

methodology that can help biostatistical reviewers of nonsequential randomized clinical

trials, armed only with the single summary statistic from the trial, ask the `what if'

question `Could a group sequential design have reached a definitive conclusion earlier?'"

Published in Volume 27, Issue 1 of Sequential Analysis, the article has inspired a

discussion among a number of the authors' critically respected peers, and their responses

have been included in the same issue.

        "Sequential designs generally can shorten the expected duration or reduce the

expected number of patients entering the trial," says Shuster and Chang in the lead

article. "If early termination occurs, not only will potential entrants be spared from

receiving inferior therapy (or useless but more toxic therapy), but the results of the trial

can get to the public earlier, when a much larger general population can benefit from the

results."

        The main paper is followed by eight response articles written by such respected

colleagues such as Dr. William F. Rosenberger, Dr. Susan S. Ellenberg, and Dr. Atanu

Biswas, among others. Shuster and Chang describe these responses as providing a

"diversity of opinion about this issue, ranging from very practical matters to very

theoretical ones" as each piece tackles the issue of clinical trials from a different angle

and viewpoint.

        The authors have also addressed these discussions through a response piece,

which is also included in the issue. In this article, Shuster and Chang "offer our

commentary on a variety of issues raised" as a way of bringing the discussion full-circle

and providing additional detail and clarity to their original article.

        Four additional articles contributing to the overall conversation on sequential

analyses in clinical trials conclude the issue.
        To access the entire issue for free, please visit the Sequential Analysis web page

at www.informaworld.com/07474946

        Published quarterly by Taylor & Francis, Sequential Analysis features

interdisciplinary articles that emphasize the methodology of practical value to applied

researchers and statistical consultants as well as the development of new and important

sequential approaches. The journal also contributes to theoretical and applied aspects of

sequential methodologies in all areas of statistical science.

        To view a free online sample copy, manuscript submission guidelines, or to obtain

subscription information, please visit the journal's website at

www.informaworld.com/07474946



For subscription information or                       To submit an article, contact:
to order a free sample copy, contact:                 Professor Nitis Mukhopadhyay
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Sequential Analysis
Volume 27, Number 1, January-March 2008

Editor's Notes
Nitis Mukhopadhyay

Editor's Special Invited Paper: Second Guessing Clinical Trial Designs
Jonathan J. Shuster and Myron N. Chang

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
D.S. Coad

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
William F. Rosenberger

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
Peter C. O'Brien

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
Edit Gombay

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
Atanu Biswas

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
Susan S. Ellenberg

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
Nancy L. Geller

Discussion on "Second-Guessing Clinical Trial Designs" by Jonathan J. Shuster and
Myron N. Chang
Qing Liu

Authors Responses
Jonathan J. Shuster and Myron N. Chang

On the Worth of Perfect Information in Bandits with Random Discounting
Martin L. Jones and Reginald Koo

Bayesian Detection of Changes of a Poisson Process Monitored at Discrete Time Points
Where the Arrival Rates are Unknown
Marlo Brown

Up-and-Down Designs for Selecting the Dose with Maximum Success Probability
E. E. Kpamegan and N. Flournoy

Weighted Logrank Statistics in Sequential Tests
E. Gombay