Table 6

Overall effect

New harm
N, % (95% CI)
Action following harmBenefit
N (%)
Benefit/s (1 point NCI* reduction)
N, % (95% CI)
Yes n=39
32.0 (23.6 to 40.4)
Dose reduction1 (0.8)Yes n=14/39
40.0 (22.9 to 57.1)
No change in med7 (5.7)
Toxicity treat—other2 (1.6)
Other medication3 (2.4)
NR1 (0.8)
Dose reduction1 (0.8)No n=6/39
17.1 (4.05 to 30.3)
No change in med1 (0.8)
Toxicity treat—other1 (0.8) 
NR3 (2.4)
Medication cessation4 (3.1)NR n=15/39
42.9 (25.6 to 60.1)
Dose reduction2 (1.6)
No change in med3 (2.4)
Toxicity treat—other2 (1.6)
Other medication1 (0.8)
NR3 (2.4)
Dose reduction1 (0.8)Died n=4/39
No change in med1 (0.8)
Toxicity treat—other1 (0.8)
Other medication1 (0.8)
No n=27
22.1 (14.7 to 29.6)
Dose reduction1 (0.8)Yes n=12/27
46.2 (25.6 to 66.7)
Toxicity treat—other1 (0.8)
NR10 (8.2)
NR6 (4.9)No n=6/27
23.1 (5.7 to 40.4)
No change in med1 (0.8)NR n=8/27
30.1 (11.8 to 50.0)
NR7 (5.7)
No change in med1 (0.8)Died n=1/27
NR n=56
45.9% (36.9% to 54.9%)
28 (23)Yes n=28/56
53.8 (39.8 to 67.9)
3 (2.4)No n=3/56
5.8 (−0.8 to 12.3)
21 (17.2)NR n=21/56
40.4 (26.6 to 54.2)
4 (3.3)Died n=4/56
Died prior to assessment of harms
n=5†
  • Harms at 7 days and benefits at 21 days.

  • *Anon. Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, V4.0, DCTD, NCI, NIH, DHHS. http://ctep.cancer.gov/protocolDevelopment/electronic_applications/ctc.htm (accessed 28 May 2009).

  • †Excluded from statistical analysis.

  • NR, not reported.