• Home
  • Search
  • Improving accuracy of GPT-3/4 results on biomedical data using a retrieval-augmented language model.
  • Cite Icon42
  • https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000568Copy DOI Icon

Improving accuracy of GPT-3/4 results on biomedical data using a retrieval-augmented language model.

Show More
  • Abstract
  • Highlights & Summary
  • Literature Map
  • References
  • Citations
  • Similar Papers
Abstract

Large language models (LLMs) have made a significant impact on the fields of general artificial intelligence. General purpose LLMs exhibit strong logic and reasoning skills and general world knowledge but can sometimes generate misleading results when prompted on specific subject areas. LLMs trained with domain-specific knowledge can reduce the generation of misleading information (i.e. hallucinations) and enhance the precision of LLMs in specialized contexts. Training new LLMs on specific corpora however can be resource intensive. Here we explored the use of a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) model which we tested on literature specific to a biomedical research area. OpenAI's GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Microsoft's Prometheus, and a custom RAG model were used to answer 19 questions pertaining to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) disease biology and treatment. Eight independent reviewers assessed LLM responses based on accuracy, relevance, and readability, rating responses on a 3-point scale for each category. These scores were then used to compare LLM performance. The performance of the LLMs varied across scoring categories. On accuracy and relevance, the RAG model outperformed other models with higher scores on average and the most top scores across questions. GPT-4 was more comparable to the RAG model on relevance versus accuracy. By the same measures, GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 had the highest scores for readability of answers when compared to the other LLMs. GPT-4 and 3.5 also had more answers with hallucinations than the other LLMs, due to non-existent references and inaccurate responses to clinical questions. Our findings suggest that an oncology research-focused RAG model may outperform general-purpose LLMs in accuracy and relevance when answering subject-related questions. This framework can be tailored to Q&A in other subject areas. Further research will help understand the impact of LLM architectures, RAG methodologies, and prompting techniques in answering questions across different subject areas.

Similar Papers
  • Research Article

Research and selection of Large Learning Models for automation of ABAP-code migration

  • Sep 24, 2025
  • Management of Development of Complex Systems
  • Oleg Pozdnyakov +1
  • Supplementary Content

Large language and vision-language models for robot: safety challenges, mitigation strategies and future directions

  • Jul 29, 2025
  • Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application
  • Xiangyu Hu +1
  • Research Article

Unlocking the Potential of Large Language Models in Education: Factors Influencing Adoption by Instructional Designers and Academics

  • Jan 01, 2026
  • Journal of Information Technology Education: Research
  • Katherine L Fourie +2
  • Research Article

Evaluating gpt-4 for zero-shot classification of bleeding and clotting events: Can large language models serve as second reviewers?

  • Nov 03, 2025
  • Blood
  • Samantha Rizzo +5
  • Research Article
  • Citations1

Optimization of traditional methods for determining the similarity of project names and purchases using large language models

  • Apr 01, 2024
  • Litera
  • Aleksei Aleksandrovich Golikov +2
  • Research Article

Readability & quality of large language model responses in CAR-T patient education

  • Nov 03, 2025
  • Blood
  • Sridhar Balasubramanian +3
  • Research Article

Application of Large Language Models (LLMs) to Geriatric Practice and Its Evaluation at 4 VA GRECCs

  • Dec 01, 2025
  • Innovation in Aging
  • Huai Cheng +2
  • Research Article

1401 Bringing Medicine Expertise to Your Screen: A New Frontier in Curbside Sleep Consultation Leveraging Large Language Models?

  • May 19, 2025
  • SLEEP
  • Nina Kuei +4
  • Conference Article
  • Citations18

Medical Adaptation of Large Language and Vision-Language Models: Are We Making Progress?

  • Jan 01, 2024
  • Daniel P Jeong +3
  • Research Article
  • Citations178

The ethics of disclosing the use of artificial intelligence tools in writing scholarly manuscripts

  • Jun 15, 2023
  • Research Ethics
  • Mohammad Hosseini +2
  • Front Matter
  • Citations1

Editorial: Large language models in work and business.

  • Nov 29, 2024
  • Frontiers in artificial intelligence
  • Şadi Evren Şeker
  • Research Article
  • Citations15

Large language models in neurosurgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

  • Nov 23, 2024
  • Acta neurochirurgica
  • Advait Patil +5
  • Research Article

#2924 Comparison of large language models and traditional natural language processing techniques in predicting arteriovenous fistula failure

  • May 23, 2024
  • Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
  • Suman Lama +6
  • Research Article

Large language models versus human examinee performance on Israeli anesthesiology board examinations.

  • Mar 25, 2026
  • Scientific reports
  • Ariel Ronen +10
  • Research Article

Advances, Evaluation, and Explainability of Large Language Models in Healthcare: A Systematic Review

  • Dec 23, 2025
  • ACM Transactions on Multimedia Computing, Communications, and Applications
  • Syed Umar Amin +2
Cactus Communications logo

Copyright 2026 Cactus Communications. All rights reserved.