Predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation

Abstract Accrual success is one key determining factor for the success of clinical trials. Global data analyses of all terminated trials reported that 55% of trials were terminated due to low accrual rates. Failure to meet accrual goals have a significant impact on costs for sponsors, academic insti...

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Main Authors: Sisi Ma, Yinzhao Wang, John Wagner, Steve Johnson, Serguei Pakhomov, Constantin Aliferis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88400-x
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author Sisi Ma
Yinzhao Wang
John Wagner
Steve Johnson
Serguei Pakhomov
Constantin Aliferis
author_facet Sisi Ma
Yinzhao Wang
John Wagner
Steve Johnson
Serguei Pakhomov
Constantin Aliferis
author_sort Sisi Ma
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Accrual success is one key determining factor for the success of clinical trials. Global data analyses of all terminated trials reported that 55% of trials were terminated due to low accrual rates. Failure to meet accrual goals have a significant impact on costs for sponsors, academic institutions, investigators, and society at large. The ability to predict trial accrual success with high precision before the trial starts would be highly valuable, preventing the allocation of critical resources for trials unlikely to meet accrual goals. In the present study, we constructed a dataset for predicting clinical trial failure based on poor accrual using clinicaltrial.gov data containing information on 57,846 trials. Features of the dataset were informed by prior literature and constructed using data-driven natural language processing methods. We built predictive models for accrual failure using state-of-the-art supervised machine learning protocols and methods. Models resulted in good predictive performance that was stable over a 10-year time period, with predictive performance of cross-validation AUC = 0.744 (+/-0.018) and prospective validation AUC = 0.737 (+/-0.038). We also improved model calibration and examined model performance with the reject option. These modifications enable model translation into decision support tools for various real-world settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to develop models for predicting clinical trial failure due to accrual based on a large dataset with a comprehensive set of trial features.
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spelling doaj-art-b55b9a73369e4bc3b1f3da218d6039722025-02-02T12:18:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-88400-xPredicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocationSisi Ma0Yinzhao Wang1John Wagner2Steve Johnson3Serguei Pakhomov4Constantin Aliferis5Institute for Health Informatics, University of MinnesotaInstitute for Health Informatics, University of MinnesotaMedical School, University of MinnesotaInstitute for Health Informatics, University of MinnesotaCollege of Pharmacy, University of MinnesotaInstitute for Health Informatics, University of MinnesotaAbstract Accrual success is one key determining factor for the success of clinical trials. Global data analyses of all terminated trials reported that 55% of trials were terminated due to low accrual rates. Failure to meet accrual goals have a significant impact on costs for sponsors, academic institutions, investigators, and society at large. The ability to predict trial accrual success with high precision before the trial starts would be highly valuable, preventing the allocation of critical resources for trials unlikely to meet accrual goals. In the present study, we constructed a dataset for predicting clinical trial failure based on poor accrual using clinicaltrial.gov data containing information on 57,846 trials. Features of the dataset were informed by prior literature and constructed using data-driven natural language processing methods. We built predictive models for accrual failure using state-of-the-art supervised machine learning protocols and methods. Models resulted in good predictive performance that was stable over a 10-year time period, with predictive performance of cross-validation AUC = 0.744 (+/-0.018) and prospective validation AUC = 0.737 (+/-0.038). We also improved model calibration and examined model performance with the reject option. These modifications enable model translation into decision support tools for various real-world settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to develop models for predicting clinical trial failure due to accrual based on a large dataset with a comprehensive set of trial features.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88400-xClinical trialClinical trial accrualPredictionDecision support
spellingShingle Sisi Ma
Yinzhao Wang
John Wagner
Steve Johnson
Serguei Pakhomov
Constantin Aliferis
Predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation
Scientific Reports
Clinical trial
Clinical trial accrual
Prediction
Decision support
title Predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation
title_full Predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation
title_fullStr Predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation
title_full_unstemmed Predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation
title_short Predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation
title_sort predicting accrual success for better clinical trial resource allocation
topic Clinical trial
Clinical trial accrual
Prediction
Decision support
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88400-x
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AT stevejohnson predictingaccrualsuccessforbetterclinicaltrialresourceallocation
AT sergueipakhomov predictingaccrualsuccessforbetterclinicaltrialresourceallocation
AT constantinaliferis predictingaccrualsuccessforbetterclinicaltrialresourceallocation