Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Corresponding author. In , the registration of all randomised controlled trials RCTs before enrolment of participants became a condition for publication by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors to increase transparency in trial reporting. Among RCTs on transarterial chemoembolisation TACE for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma HCC published after , we assess the proportion that were registered and compare registered primary outcomes PO with those reported in publications to determine whether primary outcome reporting bias favoured significant outcomes.
Registration and publication information for each included RCT was compared using a standardised data extraction form. The influence of these discrepancies could be assessed in 6 of them and was shown to statistically favour significant results in 2.
Registration should be reinforced because it is a key to transparency. Trial registration is fundamental to our understanding and interpretation of results, as it provides information on all relevant clinical trials to place the results in a broader context , and on the details of their associated protocols to ensure that the scientific plan is followed. Once a randomised controlled trial RCT is completed, the trial results are usually publicly shared via scientific articles that are expected to thoroughly and objectively report them.
This study shows that half of the RCTs evaluating transarterial chemoembolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma were not registered, and identified major discrepancies between registered and published primary outcome favouring significant results. Trial registration is fundamental to our understanding and interpretation of results. Half of published randomised controlled trials evaluating transarterial chemoembolisation for HCC were not registered.
When registered, one-third had major discrepancies between the registered and published primary outcomes. Liver cancer, which is mainly hepatocellular carcinoma HCC , is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and its incidence is expected to increase in the future. All RCTs that started recruiting on or after September were required to be registered prospectively on a publicly accessible web-based registry before participant enrolment as a prerequisite for publication in member journals.
