ABSTRACT

Subsetanalysishasbeenacontroversialareaintheconductofmodern clinicaltrials.Physiciansareofteninterestedinexaminingwhethertreatmenteffectsdifferamongsubsetsofpatients,becausetheyaresensitive totheheterogeneityofpatientpopulations.Manynewtreatmentsare toxicorexpensive,andhenceitisdesirabletodeterminewhichpatients benefitfromanewtreatment.Becausethereareoftenprognosticfactors thatmayinfluencepatientcompliance,tolerancetotreatment,andpharmacokineticorpharmacodynamiceffects,subsetanalysisisoftenviewed asscientificallyandmedicallyimportant.