AI-driven tool to match cancer trials using EHRs

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

ACTIVATE aims to develop and test an AI-enabled system that analyzes electronic health records to identify patients who may be eligible for cancer trials and to help clinicians find suitable options. The project uses retrospective data from about 70,000 patients starting systemic therapy at Dana-Farber since 2016 to build and validate the AI matching pipeline. In a prospective phase, all Dana-Farber cancer patients' records will be randomized into a control and an intervention group, where physicians in the intervention group receive proactive AI-informed trial options when disease progresses and a high likelihood of starting new treatment. The intervention includes a ranked list of potential trials delivered to treating oncologists to support decision-making, while controls follow standard AI workflows. Primary outcomes focus on trial matching efficiency and physician satisfaction with the information provided.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* 3.1 The potentially eligible patient population includes any adult (≥18 years old) with a cancer diagnosis receiving care at DFCI. No direct patient recruitment will occur as part of this protocol; all data will be obtained retrospectively or prospectively from routine clinical documentation and electronic health records. TrialForecast will involve aggregate queries of this dataset for cohort size estimation. The randomized interventional component (TrialMatch) is a health system level email "nudge" to treating oncologists providing a list of clinical trial options for patients who have progressive disease based on their imaging reports as detected using our previously developed, validated, and deployed AI model for that purpose. 23-25 Secondary outcomes in our study will include oncologist satisfaction with information delivered via these pipelines. All DFCI oncologists at any DFCI-owned/operated site (Longwood, Chestnut Hill, and regional campus sites) will be eligible to use our pipeline and may receive notifications about clinical trial options for their patients. In 2024, there were approximately 593 such oncologists who had outpatient appointments with at least one patient. Clinicians will constitute study participants as well, since they will have the opportunity to provide feedback on our pipeline to be analyzed by the study team.
* 3.2 Our project will focus on adults with cancer treated at DFCI, as above. We will not have any mechanism for identifying, targeting, or excluding pregnant women or prisoners.

Exclusion Criteria:

* 3.2 Our project will focus on adults with cancer treated at DFCI, as above. We will not have any mechanism for identifying, targeting, or excluding pregnant women or prisoners.

Where it's running

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Kenneth L Kehl, MD — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Study coordinator: Kenneth L Kehl, MD
• Email: kenneth_kehl@dfci.harvard.edu
• Phone: 617-632-4550

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.