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Oct 6, 2015 04:59PM
nancyh
wrote:
Bestbird - I agree with you about the "and" versus "or" logic, but another possible explanation for the search results returning fewer studies when more boxes are checked is because certain mets, brain in particular, are exclusion criteria for participating in many trials. Not sure if the tool is sophisticated enough to look at exclusion criteria, but that crossed my mind when I was using it.
Another possible explanation is simply that the underlying data contained in the clinical trials database is likely pretty jumbled, fragmented, and non-codified. I worked in healthcare IT for 20 years and have a tiny glimpse into how few data standards exist in the industry.
Just a general comment, this tool, while not perfect is still a step in the right direction and easier to use than the search functions on clinicaltrials.gov, which I find super frustrating. (again, it probably speaks more to the complexities in the underlying data sources than to bugs with the software, but that's just a hunch on my part).
My hat is off to the folks who developed this tool - look forward to version 2.0!
Stage 4 in 2009, mets to liver, lungs, bones, and brain.
Dx
8/12/2002, IDC, 1cm, Stage IIB, 3/12 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Chemotherapy
9/30/2002 AC
Chemotherapy
12/31/2002 Taxol (paclitaxel)
Hormonal Therapy
4/30/2003
Dx
4/2/2007, IDC, 1cm, Stage II, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Chemotherapy
5/31/2007 CMF
Targeted Therapy
8/31/2009 Avastin (bevacizumab)
Chemotherapy
8/31/2009 Abraxane (albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel)
Dx
9/1/2009, IDC, Stage IV, metastasized to brain/bone/liver/lungs, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Hormonal Therapy
5/31/2010 Femara (letrozole)
Chemotherapy
8/31/2011 Xeloda (capecitabine)
Hormonal Therapy
12/31/2011 Faslodex (fulvestrant)
Chemotherapy
5/31/2012 Navelbine (vinorelbine)
Chemotherapy
4/30/2013 Gemzar (gemcitabine)
Hormonal Therapy
5/31/2013 Aromasin (exemestane)
Targeted Therapy
7/31/2013 Afinitor (everolimus)
Chemotherapy
10/27/2013 Halaven (eribulin)
Chemotherapy
11/11/2014 Taxotere (docetaxel)
Chemotherapy
9/30/2015 Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
Targeted Therapy
Ibrance (palbociclib)