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PLCO

Biospecimen Applications:
New applications for biospecimens are currently being accepted for the following project types. Application periods close on the dates indicated at 11:59 PM EST.

The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial is a randomized, controlled trial to determine whether certain screening exams reduce mortality from prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer. Approximately 155,000 participants were enrolled between November 1993 and July 2001. PLCO has the following five ClinicalTrials.gov registration numbers: NCT00002540 (Prostate), NCT01696968 (Lung), NCT01696981 (Colorectal), NCT01696994 (Ovarian), and NCT00339495 (EEMS).

Cancer data collected up to December 31, 2009 and mortality data collected through 2015 for each subject in the PLCO trial are available on this website. Cancers and deaths continue to accrue. At some point in the future, these data will become available. For more information, see https://prevention.cancer.gov/major-programs/prostate-lung-colorectal-and-ovarian-cancer-screening-trial-plco.

  • Learn about PLCO
    This describes the trial, explaining how and what data were collected. The main findings of the trial and counts of cancers can be found here.
  • Datasets
    This page has detailed documentation of the PLCO data available on this website. Each dataset has a data dictionary, SAS format code, and a user guide.
  • Approved Projects
    Search through approved projects that used PLCO data.
  • Publications
    Search through published articles on PLCO data.
  • Contact Us
    If you have any questions about the data or access to it, please contact us.

Submit a PLCO Application

To gain access to available PLCO data and/or biospecimens, you must submit a project proposal. These are reviewed by NCI. If your project is approved, you will be required to complete a Data Transfer Agreement (and a Material Transfer Agreement, if applicable) before you will be granted access.

There are four types of PLCO projects. You may click one to begin a new project proposal.

PLCO data is available to the general scientific community. You may begin a new project for PLCO data (no biospecimens).

PLCO images and corresponding data are available to the scientific community. You may begin a new project for PLCO image data (no biospecimens).

Etiologic and Early Marker Studies (EEMS) is the NCI program by which access to biospecimens is granted. You may begin a preliminary application for PLCO biospecimens.

The NCI has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Utilizing the PLCO Biospecimens Resource to Bridge Gaps in Cancer Etiology and Early Detection Research (PAR-25-248), for soliciting grant applications to utilize the PLCO Biorepository.You may initiate a Request Form for Specimen Verification under PAR-25-248.