Characteristics of trials included in the analysis
The characteristics of the trials included in this study are listed in table 1. These 98 publications reported data on 48,245 randomized patients (Median: 402; range: 82-1623).
A 77.25% (n = 76) studies were funded by industry. Most of the trials were published during 2015 (18.36%; n = 18) and 2016 (20.41%; n = 20). The New England Journal of Medicine (26.53%; n = 26) and Lancet Oncology (20.41%; n = 20) were the most selected journals for publication of these trials. An 85.7% (n = 84) of the studies were published in high impact journals (impact factor >10).
The most common malignancies explored were Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (25.51%; n = 25), multiple myeloma (20.41% n= 20), acute myeloid leukaemia (20.41%; n = 20), and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (20.41%; n = 20). The most common intervention was chemotherapy (50%; n = 49). Stated primary endpoint was statistically significant in 65.31% (n = 64) of trials.