ELIGIBILITY FOR
CLINICAL TRIALS
When an eligibility criterion appears to block you, the useful question is not why is this so difficult. It is: is this barrier permanent, and if not, what changes it?
analyticsAt a Glance
- check_circleEligibility is defined by inclusion and exclusion criteria: diagnosis, stage, prior therapy, biomarkers
- check_circlePerformance status (ECOG or Karnofsky score) is required for most trials
- check_circlePrior treatments, comorbidities, and organ function tests affect eligibility for most protocols
- check_circleCancerFax can review medical records and identify specific trials the patient may qualify for
Common Eligibility Criteria Categories
Cancer Type and Molecular Features
The most fundamental gate. A basket trial requires the specific molecular alteration. A cancer-type-specific trial requires both the alteration and the correct tumour origin. Neither is waivable.
Prior Treatment Requirements
Many trials require specific prior treatments to have been received and failed. Others exclude patients who have received specific agents within a defined washout period. The same prior treatment can qualify for one trial and disqualify for another.
Performance Status (ECOG)
Most trials specify ECOG 0 to 2. A score of 3 often disqualifies. Performance status is also one of the more dynamic criteria -- it can improve. Reassessing when status has changed is entirely appropriate.
Organ Function Thresholds
Kidney, liver, cardiac, pulmonary function. Prior chemotherapy sometimes temporarily affects these values. A lab that is borderline today may normalise within weeks.
Brain Metastases
The historical blanket exclusion has softened considerably. Many current trials allow patients with stable, treated brain metastases. The specific language matters -- untreated active brain metastases is different from history of brain metastases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Questions About Your Eligibility for a Specific Clinical Trial?
CancerFax reviews your molecular profile, treatment history, and current clinical status against specific trial eligibility criteria to identify which programmes you may qualify for.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.