When Sensitivity Is a Function of Age and Time Spent in the Preclinical State in Periodic Cancer Screening

Wu, D., Carino, R.L., & Wu, X. (2008). When Sensitivity Is a Function of Age and Time Spent in the Preclinical State in Periodic Cancer Screening. In Shlomo S. Sawilowsky (Ed.), Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods. Wayne State University: JMASM Inc.. 7(1), 297-303. DOI:10.22237/jmasm/1209615840.

Probability models are extended for periodic cancer screening trials to model sensitivity when it is changing with an individual’s age and time spent in the preclinical state. Wu et al. (2005) showed that sensitivity is monotone increasing with age, but intuitively, sensitivity is also a function of the time one has spent in the preclinical stage. This allows us to infer sensitivity at a late stage, just before symptoms manifest. We developed the probability model and applied Bayesian inference to the HIP study group data. The methodology we developed is also applicable to other kinds of chronic diseases.