Despite its importance, biostatistics in cancer research faces several challenges:
Heterogeneity: Cancer is not a single disease but a group of related diseases. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to generalize findings across different types of cancer. Missing Data: Incomplete data can bias the results of a study. Biostatisticians must use methods to handle missing data appropriately. Confounding Variables: These are variables that can affect both the dependent and independent variables, potentially leading to false conclusions. Proper study design and statistical methods are necessary to control for confounders. High-Dimensional Data: Modern cancer research often involves high-dimensional data, such as genomic data. Analyzing such data requires specialized statistical techniques.
