Sequential linear rank tests for two-sample censored survival data. (English) Zbl 0547.62054

Slud, Eric V.

Ann. Stat. 12, 551-571 (1984).

The author provides a general theoretical framework for two-group clinical trials in survival analysis by using martingale methods and stochastic integrals with respect to counting processes. For general patterns of patient-arrival, allocation to treatments and loss to follow- up, it is shown that, under the null-hypothesis of identically distributed lifetimes, the sequentially computed logrank statistic has uncorrelated increments and satisfies a functional limit theorem. The practical applicability to survival testing in randomized clinical trials is discussed.

Reviewer: A.Irle

MSC:

62L10	Sequential statistical analysis
62P10	Applications of statistics to biology and medical sciences; meta analysis
62G10	Nonparametric hypothesis testing

Keywords:

censored survival data; two-group clinical trials; survival analysis; martingale methods; stochastic integrals; counting processes; null- hypothesis of identically distributed lifetimes; logrank statistic; uncorrelated increments; functional limit theorem; randomized clinical trials