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Sample Size Determination Example

AREA: Simon's Two Stage Phase II Design | Oncology

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Simon's Two Stage Phase II Design Worked Examples

Title:
Targeted Therapy With the T-Cell–Engaging Antibody Blinatumomab of Chemotherapy-Refractory Minimal Residual Disease in B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients Results in High Response Rate and Prolonged Leukemia-Free Survival

Objective: To determine the efficacy of blinatumomab in MRD-positive B-lineage ALL.

Year: 2011

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology

Link: https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2010.32.7270

Clinical Area: Oncology

Sample Size Section in Paper/Protocol:

“The primary end point of this study was the MRD response rate, as defined by the incidence of MRD negativity within four cycles of treatment with blinatumomab. Simon’s MinMax two-stage design with parameters P0 = 0.05, P1 = 0.3, ⍺= 0.05, and 𝛽 = 0.2 resulted in two stages of seven patients each. The sample size was expanded to 21 patients to enroll more patients with BCR-ABL translocation.” 


Summary of Necessary Parameter Estimates for Sample Size Calculation:

 Parameter Value
Significance Level, ⍺ 0.05
Maximum Ineffective Proportion, 𝜋 0 0.05
Minimum Efficacy Proportion, 𝜋 1 0.03
Power 80%
Design Criterion Minimax

 

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Step 1:
Select the POT11 Two Stage Phase II Design (Simon’s Design) table from the Select Test window.

This can be done using the radio buttons or alternatively, you can use the search bar at the end of the Select Test window.

Two Stage Phase II (Simons Design) -  Sample Size Example_Page_4_Image_0001

Step 2:
Enter the parameter values for sample size calculation taken from the study design. The required sample size will automatically calculate once values for ⍺, 𝜋 0 , 𝜋 1 and Power are entered. (Note that the “Optimum Search Value” and “Lower N Limit” parameters are only required under the “Optimum” design criterion.)

Two Stage Phase II (Simons Design) -  Sample Size Example_Page_5_Image_0002

The analysis results in a total sample size of 14, with 7 patients at stage one and a further 7 added for stage two. The actual significance level is 0.027 and the power of the test is 81.01%. At the final analysis, if two or less responses are observed in total, then the drug is rejected. The overall probability of early termination is 69.8%

Step 3:
Once the calculation is completed, nQuery provides an output statement summarizing the results.

It states:
“Under the minimax design criterion, a sample size of 14 is required to test a null hypothesis of H₀: π ≤ 0.05 versus an alternative hypothesis of H₁: π ≥ 0.3 with a one-sided significance level of 0.027 and 81.01% power, where π is the true proportion of successes. This design results in an expected sample size of 9.112 and a probability of early termination of 0.698.

If the number of responses is less than or equal to 0 out of 7 subjects in the first stage then the trial will be stopped. If the trial proceeds to the second stage, 14 subjects in total will be studied. If 2 or less responses are observed, then the drug or treatment is rejected.”

Two Stage Phase II (Simons Design) -  Sample Size Example_Page_5_Image_0001

Step 4:
We can compare the Minimax design with the Optimum and Single Stage designs by completing two additional columns in nQuery with the same ⍺, 𝜋 0 , 𝜋 1 and power parameters and selecting the appropriate Design Criterion.

Two Stage Phase II (Simons Design) -  Sample Size Example_Page_6_Image_0001

In this case, the optimum design results in a total sample size of 18, while the single-stage and
minimax designs result in a total sample size of 14.

Step 5:
nQuery advanced also provides plotting options. To access the plotting tools, highlight the
completed columns that you wish to work with, go to the menu and select:
Plot > User-Selected Rows.

Two Stage Phase II (Simons Design) -  Sample Size Example_Page_6_Image_0002

In this case, we will display how the total sample size for each design criterion is affected when the maximum ineffective proportion varies between 0.01 and 0.1.

Two Stage Phase II (Simons Design) -  Sample Size Example_Page_7_Image_0001

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Edit button at the top of the output allows users to customise the appearance of the plot.

Two Stage Phase II (Simons Design) -  Sample Size Example_Page_7_Image_0002

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