Research Methodology for Exploring Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

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Research Methodology for "Exploring Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review"

Info: 1023 words Sample Research Methodology
Published: 23rd MAY 2024


Tagged: Medical

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Introduction

This study's objective is to provide an extensive overview of new cancer treatment methods. Despite advancements in understanding cancer and developing treatments, there is still a persistent requirement for creative approaches to enhance patient results and tackle treatment resistance. This research methodology describes the planned approach for conducting a comprehensive literature review on emerging therapeutic tactics for different forms of cancer.

Research Design

The investigative framework for this study is established as a systematic literature review. Recognized for their rigorous approach to aggregating evidence from various research works, systematic reviews offer a holistic examination of a specific subject matter. For this research, the goal is to pinpoint and scrutinize research that explores innovative treatment methods in the realm of oncology.(Khan et al., 2003)

Literature Search Strategy

An exhaustive search for pertinent literature will be undertaken to determine suitable studies for the review. This will include a thorough examination of electronic databases like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, along with pertinent grey literature (Debela et al., 2021) . The strategy for searching will utilize a blend of terms associated with cancer (such as "cancer," "oncology," "neoplasm") and cutting-edge therapeutic methods (like "immunotherapy," "targeted therapy," "gene therapy"), employing Boolean operators like AND and OR to merge these search terms efficiently. (Recent Developments in Cancer Treatment: A Review, 2014)

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

  • Studies published in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Studies focus on novel therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment.
  • Studies published in English language.
  • Studies conducted on human subjects.

Exclusion criteria:

  • Studies not relevant to the research topic.
  • Studies published in languages other than English.
  • Studies lack sufficient detail or methodology.
  • Studies focus solely on preclinical research without clinical application.

Study Selection Process

The process of selecting studies will consist of a preliminary screening followed by a detailed evaluation. Initially, two independent reviewers will assess the titles and abstracts of located articles for relevance to the research inquiry and qualification for inclusion. Those articles that appear to be relevant will be subjected to a thorough review of the full text to determine their compliance with the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Should any disagreements arise between the reviewers, they will be settled through discussion or by involving a third reviewer for additional input.

Data Extraction

Data extraction will be a methodical process of pulling out significant data from the studies selected for review. We will create a uniform data extraction template to record essential information such as attributes of the study (like the authors, publication year, and methodological approach), details about the participants, types of cancer researched, the interventions being examined, evaluated outcomes, and principal conclusions. Two independent reviewers will carry out the data extraction, and any differences will be reconciled by discussion, or a third reviewer will be consulted as needed.(Moyer et al., 2009)

Quality Assessment

The quality of included studies will be assessed to evaluate the risk of bias and methodological rigor. Depending on the study design, appropriate quality assessment tools such as the Cochrane Collaboration's tool(Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 2015) for assessing risk of bias in randomized controlled trials or the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for assessing the quality of non-randomized studies (Luchini et al., 2017) will be used. Quality assessment will be conducted independently by two reviewers, with any discrepancies resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer.

Data Synthesis and Analysis

Analyzing and condensing the results of the included studies will be the task of data synthesis. The major conclusions and themes found throughout the studies will be qualitatively summarized using a narrative synthesis technique. Furthermore, quantitative synthesis or meta-analysis may be carried out to aggregate data from related studies and calculate summary effect sizes if practical and appropriate (Barnett-Page and Thomas 2009). To investigate potential sources of heterogeneity subgroup analyses may also be carried out.

Ethical Considerations

As this research involves the synthesis of existing literature, ethical approval is not required. However, ethical principles such as integrity, transparency, and respect for intellectual property rights will be adhered to throughout the research process.

Dissemination of Findings

The results of this study will be shared through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at conferences, and other appropriate forums to provide contributions to the discourse surrounding innovative therapeutic methods in cancer care. There will be a concerted effort to disseminate the research outcomes to key stakeholders such as medical practitioners, academic researchers, policy makers, and advocacy organizations for patients.

Conclusion

In summary, this research plan sets forth the structured approach for a detailed examination of new therapeutic methods in cancer management. Through the systematic collation of current literature, the intention of this study is to yield meaningful perspectives on forthcoming techniques that show potential for enhancing treatment results and propelling forward the quality of care for cancer patients.

References

  1. Barnett-Page, E., & Thomas, J. (2009, August 11). Methods for the synthesis of qualitative research: a critical review. BMC Medical research methodology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-9-59
  2. Debela, D T., Muzazu, S G., Heraro, K D., Ndalama, M T., Mesele, B W., Haile, D C., Kitui, S K., & Manyazewal, T. (2021, January 1). New approaches and procedures for cancer treatment: Current perspectives. SAGE open medicine, 9, 205031212110343-205031212110343. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211034366
  3. Khan, K S., Kunz, R., Kleijnen, J., & Antes, G. (2003, March 1). Five Steps to Conducting a Systematic Review. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 96(3), 118-121. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107680309600304
  4. Luchini, C., Stubbs, B., Solmi, M., & Veronese, N. (2017, January 1). Assessing the quality of studies in meta-analyses: Advantages and limitations of the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. https://doi.org/10.13105/wjma.v5.i4.80
  5. Moyer, A., Sohl, S J., Knapp‐Oliver, S K., & Schneider, S. (2009, August 1). Characteristics and methodological quality of 25 years of research investigating psychosocial interventions for cancer patients. Cancer treatment reviews, 35(5), 475-484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.02.003
  6. Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. (2015, December 16). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483347660.n335
  7. Recent Developments in Cancer Treatment: A Review. (2014, April 28). https://www.omicsgroup.org/journals/recent-developments-in-cancer-treatment-a-review-2167-7689.S1-001.php

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