Current and past projects.

CURRENT

The Ethics of using ChatGPT in the Patient-Trial Matching Process for Patients with Advanced Cancer.

Low accrual rates in cancer clinical trials continue to hinder advancements in cancer care and research. To improve clinical trial participation, researchers from the University of Toronto, University Health Network, and Queen’s University are developing PMATCH – a research platform that leverages machine learning to match patients with cancer clinical trials. Initially, PMATCH aimed to generate match reports for clinicians and researchers.

However, there is a growing interest in utilizing large language models chatbots (such as ChatGPT) to support patient decision-making regarding PMATCH matches with the goal of enhancing patient autonomy and simplifying trial access. Given their ability to synthesize large amounts of data and simulate human conversation, ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the clinical trial scene. At a basic level, ChatGPT could provide generic trial information and create summaries of PMATCH matches for patients to consider their options. At a more comprehensive level, ChatGPT could respond to individual patient queries and facilitate empathetic discussions about specific trial matches. Overall, ChatGPT could enhance patient autonomy by offering information and emotional support for informed decision-making regarding available trials.

While the application of ChatGPT in this context holds great promise, it also raises significant ethical concerns. Chief among these are the accuracy of the information provided by the language model and the safeguarding of confidential patient data. Additionally, there are more nuanced issues, such as the potential impact of ChatGPT on the patient-physician relationship and the need to account for cultural differences among cancer patients. As such, our research aims to elucidate some of these major ethical considerations and provide guidance for clinicians and researchers on the responsible use of ChatGPT in clinical trials.