Summary
The proportional hazards model is frequently used in analyzing the results of clinical trials, when it is often the case that the outcomes are right-censored. This model allows one to measure treatment effects and simultaneously identify and adjust for prognostic factors that might influence the outcome. In this paper, we outline a class of semiparametric models that allows one to model prognostic factors nonlinearly, and have the data suggest the form of their effect. The methods are illustrated in an analysis of data from a breast cancer clinical trial.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Meinert CL: Clinical Trials: Design, Conduct, and Analysis. Oxford University Press, New York, 1986.
Simon R: Importance of prognostic factors in cancer clinical trials. Cancer Treatment Reports 68:185–192, 1984.
Cox DR: Regression models and life-tables (with discussion). J Roy Stat Soc [B] 34:187–200, 1972.
Kalbfleisch JD, Prentice RL: The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1980.
Tibshirani R: A Plain Man's Guide to the Proportional Hazards Model. Clin Invest Med 5:63–68, 1982.
Hastie TJ, Tibshirani RJ: Generalized Additive Models. Chapman and Hall, London, 1990.
deBoor C: A Practical Guide to Splines. Springer, New York, 1978.
Sleeper LA, Harrington DP: Regression splines in the Cox model with application to covariate effects in liver disease. J Am Stat Assoc 85:941–949, 1990.
Therneau T: S functions for modelling survival data, section S of statlib@lib.stat.cmu.edu, 1992.
Becker R, Chambers J, Wilks A: The S Language. Wadsworth, 1988.
Chambers JM, Hastie TJ: Statistical Models in S. Wadsworth, 1991.
Eubank RL: Spline Smoothing and Nonparametric Regression. Marcel Dekker, New York, 1988.
Almudevar T, Tibshirani R: GAIM Users Guide. S.N. Tibshirani Enterprises, Inc., 1991.
Taylor SG, Knuiman MW, Sleeper LA, Olson JE, Tormey DC, Gilchrist KW, Falkson G, Rosenthal SN, Carbone PP, Cummings FJ: Six-year results of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial of observation versus CMFP versus CMFPT in postmenopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 7:879–889, 1989.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hastie, T., Sleeper, L. & Tibshirani, R. Flexible covariate effects in the proportional hazards model. Breast Cancer Res Tr 22, 241–250 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01840837
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01840837