Statistical Considerations in the Analysis of Tumor Markers

In this chapter, we will lay out the basics of experimental design: how to organize a study and determine sample size, what data to use, how to set up the database for analysis, what statistics are necessary for the analysis of the study, and what statistical packages are available to analyze the study. These are considerations that should be included when the study is being planned. Consideration of statistical and data-collection requirements at the time of initial study planning will reduce missing data and prevent the collection of too few samples to ensure enough statistical power to be able to see the effects planned or too many samples, which wastes resources and time. The mcorporatlon of data collection planned for the statistical analysis will streamline the data-collection process and minimize data coding errors, the amount of recoding, and poststudy data processing.