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‘Too good to be true’: A Chinese study on timing cancer therapy is retracted

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A promising Chinese study published in Nature Medicine, suggesting morning immunotherapy significantly improved lung cancer patient outcomes, has been retracted.
  • The study reported patients receiving morning infusions lived twice as long and had their cancer kept at bay for twice as long compared to those receiving afternoon infusions.
  • The retraction cites numerous inconsistencies and irregularities in the trial's design and results, leading editors to lose confidence in the findings.

A highly anticipated study that suggested a simple change in the timing of immunotherapy could dramatically improve outcomes for lung cancer patients has been retracted. Published in February in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, the research from China indicated that patients receiving IV infusions in the morning experienced twice the survival time and had their cancer progression delayed by a similar margin compared to those treated in the afternoon.

It was too good to be true.

— Toni ChoueiriAn oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, commenting on the study's extraordinary claims before its retraction.

The findings generated significant global attention, prompting numerous calls from patients and doctors inquiring about switching treatment schedules. However, on June 25, Nature Medicine issued a retraction notice, citing a series of serious inconsistencies and irregularities discovered in the trial's design and data. These issues included records being altered midway through the study, discrepancies between different versions of the study plan, and unusual patterns in patient follow-up and scan timing.

Due to the amount and nature of the problems identified, the editors no longer have confidence in the integrity of the results.

— Nature MedicineThe journal's official statement explaining the reasons for retracting the study.

Editors at Nature Medicine stated that the "amount and nature of the problems identified" led them to lose confidence in the integrity of the study's results. Among the concerns were that every patient remained in the study for the first year without dropping out due to side effects, an uncommon occurrence in oncology trials. The study, funded by the Chinese government, involved authors primarily from China with collaborators in Europe.

confirmed that part of the study execution and manuscript preparation might not reach the standards for publication in a high-impact journal

— Yongchang ZhangThe study's senior author, acknowledging shortcomings in a statement following the retraction.

This retraction comes amid China's rapid rise as a powerhouse in drug development, fueled by significant government investment. While this surge has led to a proliferation of patents and clinical trials, it has also drawn scrutiny regarding the reliability of its biomedical research. Experts note that the quality of research output from China varies, with some scientists adhering to meticulous standards while others are perceived to cut corners. The senior author of the retracted study acknowledged shortcomings in the study's execution and manuscript preparation, apologizing for the issues.

We acknowledge these shortcomings and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the journal and its readers.

— Yongchang ZhangThe study's senior author, expressing regret after the retraction.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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