Glossary

Clinical Trials Glossary

Plain-language definitions for common colorectal cancer clinical trial terms, from biomarkers to eligibility criteria.

This glossary is designed to make clinical trial language easier to scan while researching options.

Definitions are intentionally practical and patient-facing, not exhaustive academic references.

Glossary terms

A measurable feature of a tumor or blood test that can influence treatment choices or clinical trial eligibility.

Circulating tumor DNA found in the bloodstream, often used in MRD or recurrence-monitoring contexts.

A performance-status scale used to describe how active and physically capable a patient is during treatment decisions.

The inclusion and exclusion rules that determine who can and cannot enroll in a study.

Microsatellite stable, a colorectal cancer subtype that often behaves differently in immunotherapy-related trial search.

A study where participants are assigned to trial arms by chance to help compare outcomes fairly.