Clinical Trials SoCal

Search Guide

How To Write Better Trial Search Queries

The search works best when you describe the disease setting, exact prior therapies, progression history, biomarkers, and any known screening facts. This page shows the wording patterns that produce the best results.

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The Core Idea

This is a structured matching tool, not a chatbot. It is designed to find trials that fit the patient’s disease state and prior-treatment context, then show what still needs verification. The better the query captures therapy sequence, the better the results.

Best Query Structure

Use this order when possible:

[Cancer] + [Disease state] + [Progressed on] + [Other prior therapies] + [Biomarkers] + [Screening facts]

Most Important Distinction

  • Received docetaxel is not the same as progressed on docetaxel.
  • Post-ARPI is not the same as progressed on enzalutamide.
  • Use exact agent names whenever you know them.

Write It Like This

Good mCRPC. Progressed on enzalutamide. No prior docetaxel. BRCA2+. PSMA-positive PET.
Weak Advanced prostate cancer after treatment.

Helpful Phrases

progressed on enzalutamide received docetaxel no prior cabazitaxel PSMA-positive PET FGFR3 mutation ECOG 1 labs normal last systemic therapy 21 days ago

Prostate Examples

Broad post-ARPI
mCRPC. Progressed on enzalutamide.
Exact later-line sequence
mCRPC. Progressed on ADT and enzalutamide and docetaxel.
Received but did not progress
mCRPC. Received docetaxel. Progressed on enzalutamide.
Current therapy, not progression
mCRPC. Currently on enzalutamide.

Bladder

  • BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS
  • BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with papillary-only recurrence
  • Metastatic urothelial carcinoma after prior platinum. FGFR3 mutation.

Kidney

  • Metastatic clear-cell RCC after prior IO.
  • Metastatic papillary type 2 RCC. MET alteration.
  • Metastatic chromophobe RCC.

Testicular

  • NSGCT with AFP elevated after orchiectomy and no prior chemotherapy
  • NSGCT after first-line BEP with residual mass after chemotherapy, markers normal
  • Primary mediastinal NSGCT, advanced disease, no prior chemotherapy

What Strong vs Possible Usually Means

  • Strong match: disease state and prior-therapy pattern fit well.
  • Possible match: the trial may still fit, but one or more facts need confirmation.
  • Typical confirmation items: therapy sequence, biomarkers, PSMA imaging, ECOG, organ function, or washout timing.

Practical Tips

  • Put the disease setting near the beginning of the query.
  • Use exact drug names if you know them.
  • Use progressed on only when progression is known.
  • Use received if exposure is known but progression is not.
  • Add no prior when a prohibited therapy matters.

Current Limitation

The search is a structured matching tool, not a final eligibility engine. It is meant to help narrow the right trials and show what still needs confirmation. Final protocol review and discussion with the trial team are still required.