The use of research biopsies in oncology trials: challenges and controversies

In a recent issue of JAMA Oncology, Dr. Christine Parseghian and colleagues reported on the rate of research biopsy reporting for registered clinical trials in the article entitled “Assessment of Reported Trial Characteristics, Rate of Publication, and Inclusion of Mandatory Biopsies of Research Biopsies in Clinical Trials in Oncology” (1). The authors undertook a systematic evaluation of oncologic investigation studies registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (CTG) over a 15-year period that conducted non-diagnostic solid tumor or lymph node biopsies.