Impact factor and citation metrics in phase III cancer trials.

Joseph Abi Jaoude,Cullen M Taniguchi,Ethan B Ludmir,Michael Rooney,C David Fuller,Bruce D Minsky,Marc Ghabach,Roshal Patel,Petria Thompson,Ramez Kouzy,Maddie C Turner

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.28044

Joseph Abi Jaoude, Cullen M Taniguchi + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28044

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Abstract

Purpose: Journal impact factor (IF) is often used to measure research quality and importance. We assessed trial factors associated with the publication of cancer trials in journals with higher IF and publications receiving higher citations.Materials and Methods: Cancer-specific phase III RCTs were screened through https://clinicaltrials.gov. We identified trials with published primary endpoints, along with their corresponding journal IF and relative citation ratio (RCR).Results: Seven-hundred ninety manuscripts were included in our study. Trials that met their primary endpoint were more commonly published in journals with higher IF (Median IF: positive trials 35.4 vs. negative trials 26.3, P < 0.001). Furthermore, trials that led to subsequent FDA drug approvals were also published in journals with higher IF (Median IF: 59.1 vs. 26.3 in trials not leading to FDA approvals, P < 0.001). When analyzing RCR, trial positivity (meeting primary endpoint) was not associated with increased citations on multivariable analysis (P = 0.56). Lastly, publications of trials leading to FDA approvals (P < 0.001), and publications of trials in journals with higher IF (P < 0.001) were associated with increased RCR.Conclusions: Positive trials are commonly published in journals with high IF, but do not necessarily lead to increased citations. Moreover, trials published in journals with higher IF are more likely to receive increased citations.

Highlights

Clinical trial reporting remains the cornerstone of disseminating clinical cancer research
Trials that met their primary endpoint were more commonly published in journals with higher impact factor (IF) (Median IF: positive trials 35.4 vs. negative trials 26.3, P < 0.001)
Trials that led to subsequent FDA drug approvals were published in journals with higher IF (Median IF: 59.1 vs. 26.3 in trials not leading to FDA approvals, P < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

Clinical trial reporting remains the cornerstone of disseminating clinical cancer research. The selection of manuscripts published in journals with high IF is based on a wide array of factors, including study impact, novelty, design, and quality. Owing to the nature of IF being highly based on citations, many alternate factors could play a role in selecting which trial reports to publish in high-impact journals [4, 5]. Despite these considerations, data on IF and cancer trial reporting remain scarce. We investigated factors associated with the publication of trial results in journals with higher IF. We sought to analyze trial factors associated with cancer trial publication leading to a higher relative citation ratio (RCR)

Methods

Results

Conclusion