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Sample Size Determination Example

AREA: Survival Analysis | Oncology

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Amgen Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Research

TitleA randomized phase IIIB trial of chemotherapy, bevacizumab, and panitumumab compared with chemotherapy and bevacizumab alone for metastatic colorectal cancer.

Objective: Panitumumab, a fully human antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, is active in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This trial evaluated panitumumab added to bevacizumab and chemotherapy (oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based) as first-line treatment for mCRC.

Year: 2009

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology

Link: http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/27/5/672.long

Clinical Area: Oncology

Sample Size Section in Paper/Protocol:

“For the primary analysis of the Ox-CT cohort, 462 PFS events were required to detect a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.769 with at least 80% power for a two sided, .05-level test. This HR, assuming exponential PFS, would translate to a 30% improvement in median PFS for panitumumab versus control, assuming a median PFS of 12 months in the control arm and follow-up of approximately 24 months.”


Summary of Necessary Parameter Estimates for Sample Size Calculation:

 Parameter Value
 Significance Level (2-Sided) 0.05
 Expected Placebo Median Survival 12 Months
 Expected Hazard Ratio 0.769
 Follow-Up 24 Months
 Power 80%
Number of Interim Analyses 1
Alpha Spending Function (from Protocol) O'Brien-Fleming

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Step 1:
Select the Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals Table from the Study Design Pane.

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

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 01- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

Step 2:
From the Assistants menu select Survival Parameter Converter.

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 02- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

Convert the median survival time and hazard ratio into “Group Proportion at Time t”

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 03- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

Step 3:
Enter the values for sample size calculation taken from the study design statement and survival parameter converter.

Be sure to change the Number of Looks from the default to “2”. This specifies one interim analysis and one endpoint analysis.

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 04- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

Now enter the Power of 80% and the sample size and number of events will auto calculate.

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 05- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

The analysis calculates a sample size of 462 events with a power of 80% as per the study design statement. The difference of one may be due to rounding or the authors using simulation methods.


The total sample size used in the study was 800, which was estimated to provide 87.2% power in this study. This sample size may have been adjusted for accrual time and/or dropout.

Step 4:
Once the calculation is completed, nQuery Advanced provides an output statement summarizing the results. It States:

Output Statement:

A total sample size of at least 657 (462 events) is required to achieve 80.04% power to detect a hazard ratio of 0.77 (for survival rates of 0.344 in group 1 and 0.25 in group 2), using a two-sided log rank test with 5% significance level assuming that the survival rates are exponential.

These results assume that the group sequential design has 1 interim sequential tests (2 total interim looks including final analysis) and the O'Brien-Fleming spending function is used to determine the efficacy test boundary.

The drift parameter for this design equals 2.808. The drift parameter defines the increase in sample size needed over a fixed term design and equals square root of the maximum information level by the log hazard ratio

 

The output statement appears at the bottom of nQuery. This can be printed or copy and pasted into any document.

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 06- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

Step 5: 
nQuery Advanced also provides graphs and the details of the interim analysis. 
To access plots, go to the menu and select Plot > Your graph

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- img 07- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 08- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

Sample Size Calculator Example- nQuery- Example 22- Img 09- Group Sequential Test of Two Survivals

 

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