What is randomisation?

To avoid the risk of biased results, a patient can be randomly assigned to a form of treatment. This is essential in guaranteeing that there is no bias in the selection of patients for the different treatments but it must be properly conducted. The result of the two arms are kept blinded from participating clinicians while the study is ongoing, and will not be revealed until the end of the study.

It is not always possible to conduct randomised trials in paediatric oncology because of the rarity of the tumours, and the small numbers of available patients. In practice about one third of all UKCCSG trials will be randomised. The conduct of all is subject to close scrutiny by Independent Data Monitoring Committees.

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