A further look into the PLCO data with open questions on PSA, active surveillance, and risk factors in prostate cancer
Principal Investigator
Name
Yulong Gu
Degrees
Ph.D.
Institution
Stockton University
Position Title
Associate Professor of Health Science
Email
About this CDAS Project
Study
PLCO
(Learn more about this study)
Project ID
PLCO-1118
Initial CDAS Request Approval
Dec 5, 2022
Title
A further look into the PLCO data with open questions on PSA, active surveillance, and risk factors in prostate cancer
Summary
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and ranks the second cancer killer in the United States. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a commonly used serum tumor marker for screening of early-stage prostate cancer. However, there are controversial opinions regarding the use of PSA for the purpose of screening for prostate cancer. Though the American Urological Association guideline still recommends it, data from United States Preventive Services Task Force showed using PSA screening may result in overdiagnosis and overtreatment of prostate cancer, because most prostate cancer is asymptomatic for life.
Most prostate cancer remains asymptomatic and most patients with low-grade early-stage prostate cancer do not eventually die of prostate cancer. Active surveillance becomes a common option other than aggressive treatments like the radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. These patients will be closely followed up with PSA and repeated biopsies. Only 18% of this patient population will die of prostate cancer. How to stratify this patient population and screen relatively high-risk patients becomes highly clinically-relevant.
In recent years, more patients have been diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 55. Data have shown that these patients are more likely to die of prostate cancer, compared to patients diagnosed with prostate cancer after the age of 55. It is possible that prostate cancer in these young patients is more aggressive than usual. However, the underlying molecular mechanism and risk factors remain unknown.
With these considerations and questions, we are interested in accessing the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) datasets – data only (no images or biospecimens). We would like to use statistical methods and machine learning techniques to further study these cancer screening data.
Most prostate cancer remains asymptomatic and most patients with low-grade early-stage prostate cancer do not eventually die of prostate cancer. Active surveillance becomes a common option other than aggressive treatments like the radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. These patients will be closely followed up with PSA and repeated biopsies. Only 18% of this patient population will die of prostate cancer. How to stratify this patient population and screen relatively high-risk patients becomes highly clinically-relevant.
In recent years, more patients have been diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 55. Data have shown that these patients are more likely to die of prostate cancer, compared to patients diagnosed with prostate cancer after the age of 55. It is possible that prostate cancer in these young patients is more aggressive than usual. However, the underlying molecular mechanism and risk factors remain unknown.
With these considerations and questions, we are interested in accessing the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) datasets – data only (no images or biospecimens). We would like to use statistical methods and machine learning techniques to further study these cancer screening data.
Aims
We hope to get more insights to the above-mentioned open questions in the following aspects, which will bring high clinical-relevant impacts in the prostate cancer field.
1. Will PSA screening help to improve the actual overall survival of prostate cancer patients?
2. What are the risk factors for prostate cancer patients under active surveillance?
3. What are the risk factors associated with mortality among prostate cancer patients?
Collaborators
Zhiming Yang, MidLantic Urology
Alexander B. Chen, Conestoga High School
Jefferey Wang, Conestoga High School