Response rate (medicine)

Response rate (medicine)

The response rate in medicine is a measure of the extent of disease that has been reduced in a patient following treatment. This is often used in clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of a new drug or therapy.

Definition

In the context of clinical trials, the response rate is defined as the proportion of patients whose cancer shrinks or disappears after treatment. The rate is calculated by dividing the number of patients who responded to the treatment by the total number of patients in the trial.

Types of response

There are several types of response that can be observed in a clinical trial:

• Complete response (CR): This is when all signs of the cancer disappear.
• Partial response (PR): This is when the cancer shrinks but does not completely disappear.
• Stable disease (SD): This is when the cancer does not grow or shrink.
• Progressive disease (PD): This is when the cancer grows or spreads to other parts of the body.

Measurement

The measurement of response rate can be done using various methods such as medical imaging and biomarker testing. The Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) is one of the most commonly used methods for measuring response rate in solid tumors.

Importance

The response rate is an important measure in clinical trials as it provides an early indication of whether a new drug or therapy is effective. However, it is not the only measure of effectiveness and should be considered alongside other factors such as survival rate, quality of life, and adverse effects.

See also

• Clinical trial
• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Therapy

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