Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42742636›Full record

SynthesisJournal of cancer research and clinical oncology2026

Time to subsequent therapy (TTST) as an endpoint in clinical studies: development of standardized documentation of subsequent therapy through systematic literature review, expert interviews, and Delphi survey.

Bianca Biedenweg, Thorsten Ruppert, Thomas Kohlmann, Martin Danner, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf, Diana Lüftner, Ulrike Filippig, Janine Ziemann, Ulrike Osowski, Peter Kaskel

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Bianca BiedenwegDept. Methods in Community Medicine, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Thorsten RuppertGerman Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa), Berlin, Germany.
Thomas KohlmannDept. Methods in Community Medicine, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. Thomas.Kohlmann@med.uni-greifswald.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5956-8309
Martin DannerBAG SELBSTHILFE German Federal Working Group for Self-Help for People with Disabilities, Chronic Illnesses and Their Relatives (Registered Association Under German Law), Düsseldorf, Germany.
Anja Mehnert-TheuerkaufDept. of Med. Psychology and Med. Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Diana LüftnerImmanuel Klinik Märkische Schweiz, Buckow, Germany & Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, Medical University of Brandenburg, Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany.
Ulrike FilippigOnkolotsin, Fehmarn, Germany.
Janine ZiemannDept. Methods in Community Medicine, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Ulrike OsowskiMerck Healthcare Germany GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.
Peter KaskelMSD SHARP & DOHME GMBH, Munich, Germany. peter.kaskel@msd.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-2297-3366

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe endpoint Time to Subsequent Therapy (TTST) is an intermediate endpoint used in research and regulatory assessments. TTST denotes initiation of subsequent therapy and is a clearly definable, clinically relevant event for healthcare professionals. However, it has not been systematically established to which extent TTST is subjectively meaningful to patients. The objective of this study was to define TTST as a patient-relevant intermediate endpoint.

methodsThe study examined five oncological indications (breast cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, multiple myeloma, and non-small cell lung cancer) using a systematic literature review, analysis of case report forms used in international randomized controlled trials, review of German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) documents, semi-structured interviews and a two-stage Delphi survey with healthcare professionals, patients, and relatives.

resultsA total of 35 individuals participated in qualitative interviews. Most of them rated TTST as particularly significant. The Delphi Survey included 264 interviewees in round one, and 117 in round two. Patient-relevance of TTST was confirmed by 81% of respondents (95% confidence interval 76%, 85%). Nine treatment scenarios that justify TTST were identified. To capture patient-relevance, prospective collection of reasons for and consequences of therapy change are required. A checklist with standardized response formats plus free-text fields was developed: a comprehensive master checklist for flexible, complete documentation and a short version focused on therapy change-specific items.

conclusionsTTST is an intermediate endpoint whose systematic documentation of characteristics demonstrating patient-relevance can be standardized in research and clinical practice using the developed checklists.

Indexed as

DocumentationEndpoint DeterminationNeoplasmsTime-to-TreatmentDelphi TechniqueFemaleHumansMaleBenefit assessmentEndpointOncologyPatient relevanceTime to subsequent therapyTTST

Identifiers

PMID42742636
PMCPMC13578166

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.