Findings from the Adjuvant Colon Cancer End Points (ACCENT) Collaborative Group: the Power of Pooled Individual Patient Data from Multiple Clinical Trials

Abstract

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are relied upon for determining the standard of care and changes to the standard of care in oncology. Through data sharing, the pooled individual patient data (IPD) from these trials can provide high-quality sources and enriched power for analyses beyond the original goals of each trial. To address important scientific questions in early-stage colon cancer, the Adjuvant Colon Cancer End Points (ACCENT) Collaborative Group has continuously integrated IPD from large adjuvant colon cancer RCTs conducted worldwide. Through June 2016, IPD from over 40,000 patients from 27 major trials (1977 to 2009) have been assembled. Over the past 20 years, a variety of clinical questions have been investigated and addressed by ACCENT collaborations. Many of the findings have provided additional understanding of treatment mechanisms, suggested changes or reinforced quality patient care, and informed and improved the design for the current and next generation of RCTs. We review these significant contributions from the ACCENT collaboration.