ECONOMIC-ANALYSES IN CLINICAL-TRIALS FOR COOPERATIVE GROUPS - OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Clinical trials have served as valuable tools for evaluating new thera peutic strategies in the treatment of cancer. Traditionally, new pharm aceuticals and procedures have been appraised on the basis of effectiv eness, efficacy, and safety. Recently, economic concerns have become i ncreasingly important when considering treatment strategies for cancer patients. The national emphasis on assessing the costs of health care has focused primarily on the cost-effectiveness of resource allocatio n. Policy makers are exhibiting greater interest in economic data to s upplement clinical data of new procedures and pharmaceutical agents be fore the approval and widespread applications of such methodologies. C linical trials have increasingly become operational details for carryi ng out economic analyses of clinical trials being conducted in the can cer cooperative group setting.