Inclusion Criteria — What It Means in Clinical Trials
Plain English Definition
Inclusion criteria are the requirements you must meet to join a trial. These typically include your age, diagnosis, stage of disease, and general health. Every single criterion must be met — if you miss even one, you cannot participate in that specific trial.
Why It Matters
Reading the inclusion criteria carefully is the fastest way to know if a trial could be right for you. Do not be discouraged if you do not meet every requirement — there are thousands of other trials.
Example
A listing might say: "Inclusion: age 18-70, confirmed diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer, ECOG performance status 0-1, no prior immunotherapy."
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