Sparse kernel methods for high-dimensional survival data.
Sparse kernel methods like support vector machines (SVM) have been applied with great success to classification and (standard) regression settings. Existing support vector classification and regression techniques however are not suitable for partly censored survival data, which are typically analysed using Cox's proportional hazards model. As the partial likelihood of the proportional hazards model only depends on the covariates through inner products, it can be 'kernelized'. The kernelized proportional hazards model however yields a solution that is dense, i.e. the solution depends on all observations. One of the key features of an SVM is that it yields a sparse solution, depending only on a small fraction of the training data. We propose two methods. One is based on a geometric idea, where-akin to support vector classification-the margin between the failed observation and the observations currently at risk is maximised. The other approach is based on obtaining a sparse model by adding observations one after another akin to the Import Vector Machine (IVM). Data examples studied suggest that both methods can outperform competing approaches.


BACKGROUND
Software is available under the GNU Public License as an R package and can be obtained from the first author's website http://www.maths.bris.ac.uk/~maxle/software.html.
Evers
Ludger
L
Department of Mathematics, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, United Kingdom. l.evers@bris.ac.uk
Messow
Claudia-Martina
CM
D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003205:Computing Methodologies; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012984:Software