Q-LEARNING WITH CENSORED DATA
We develop methodology for a multistage-decision problem with flexible number of stages in which the rewards are survival times that are subject to censoring. We present a novel Q-learning algorithm that is adjusted for censored data and allows a flexible number of stages. We provide finite sample b...
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| Published in: | The Annals of statistics Vol. 40; no. 1; p. 529 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
United States
01.02.2012
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| ISSN: | 0090-5364 |
| Online Access: | Get more information |
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| Summary: | We develop methodology for a multistage-decision problem with flexible number of stages in which the rewards are survival times that are subject to censoring. We present a novel Q-learning algorithm that is adjusted for censored data and allows a flexible number of stages. We provide finite sample bounds on the generalization error of the policy learned by the algorithm, and show that when the optimal Q-function belongs to the approximation space, the expected survival time for policies obtained by the algorithm converges to that of the optimal policy. We simulate a multistage clinical trial with flexible number of stages and apply the proposed censored-Q-learning algorithm to find individualized treatment regimens. The methodology presented in this paper has implications in the design of personalized medicine trials in cancer and in other life-threatening diseases. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 0090-5364 |
| DOI: | 10.1214/12-AOS968 |