np1: A computer program for dose escalation strategies in phase I clinical trials

The continual reassessment method is a recommended dose escalation design for including patients in phase I clinical trials designed to estimate the maximum tolerated dose. However, for a particular trial, the implementation of these methods requires extensive computer programming. Standard 3+3 designs do not require this, but have shown to possess poor statistical properties. np1 is a user friendly computer program which has implemented two continual reassessment methods for simulating and conducting a phase I clinical trial. Several options allow the user to investigate operating characteristics under various scenarios.

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