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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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Many Cancer Trials Go Unpublished: Study

Negative outcomes often shelved because they don't boost careers

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(Newser) – Fewer than 20% of cancer trial results are published in peer-review journals, a new study says. And industry-sponsored trials only achieve publication one time in 20. The reason? Scientists seeking success and media-hungry journals don't want to publish negative results, analysts say—even if they would aid other cancer studies.

"I knew that there was underpublication," but not at such high rates, study author Dr. Scott Ramsey told BusinessWeek. "We were really shocked by that." Studies that negated a drug's effects may have gone unpublished, he said, while positive ones were. Then "not only are we wasting lots of money, but we'd be giving patients false hopes about the value of the products."

Many science journals refuse to publish negative results.
Many science journals refuse to publish negative results. "There are some journals which say, 'If you have negative results, we don't want to publish them,'" said one researcher. "It's dysfunctional."   (Index Stock)
The findings are particularly worrisome for cancer patients, given that many expensive new drugs have only modest survival benefits, adding at best a few months of life.
The findings are particularly worrisome for cancer patients, given that many expensive new drugs have only modest survival benefits, adding at best a few months of life.   (Shutter Stock)
Experts say there are powerful incentives for researchers not to publish negative results, especially because scientists gain career advancement, money, and fame by making bold advances.
Experts say there are powerful incentives for researchers not to publish negative results, especially because scientists gain career advancement, money, and fame by making bold advances.   (Index Stock)
This clinical trial blackout is a huge problem in cancer research, BusinessWeek reports.
This clinical trial blackout is a huge problem in cancer research, BusinessWeek reports.   (Shutter Stock)
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