Conflict of interests, benefits and harms involved in clinical trials in lung cancer

Abstract

The standard treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is radiochemotherapy (RCT). Unsatisfactory overall survival stimulated initial studies with targeted therapy. This study examined conflicts of interest involved in phase I/II clinical trials using targeted therapy + RQT in patients with NSCLC, based on a previously presented metanalysis. The survival achieved with targeted therapy showed no statistical difference, when compared to standard treatment. However, an increase of toxicities was observed. Besides, 85.7 % of the studies reported conflict of interests. It was found, thus, that the pharmaceutical industry funding is probably associated with favorable results. As shown in the DUBDH, benefits should be maximized and any possible harm, minimized. In this sense, patients with potentially curable disease, undergoing studies (often industry-sponsored), exhibit, though, diminished quality of life. The conclusion of these studies, considered the financial interests of investigators, is often detached from reality.