PEP 2003-011

CIO Name: NCCDPHP

Title: Prostate Cancer Boundary Analysis

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to conduct research to systematically evaluate and compare the strengths and weaknesses of prostate cancer boundary analysis methods for use by state-based Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) programs. In the past, cancer prevention and control maps typically have displayed information using polygon boundaries (e.g., single county or multi county units). This approach assumes that disease distribution corresponds to county boundary lines, and that the edges of the polygon corresponding to the county boundary lines surround an area of homogeneous information. However, with the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology and methods, alternative methods for boundary analysis are possible. For example, prostate cancer cases can be mapped as individual points (e.g., using the latitude-longitude coordinates corresponding to the street address of the case). GIS methods can then be applied to the points to identify "difference boundaries" (zones of rapid change), where the values of the variable immediately to one side of the boundary are very different from values to the other side. In contrast to polygon (homogeneous area) boundaries, difference boundaries are often open, meaning that they appear as line segments that do not enclose an area. Boundaries also may be crisp (well defined) or fuzzy (imprecise). Relatively little information exists about how the boundary analysis enabled by GIS methods might be applied by CCC programs. Research and field testing to compare boundary analysis methods will help improve understanding of how to select and apply these methods as part of CCC program efforts. Although field testing in this specific project will focus on prostate cancer, the results will be useful for many other types of cancer.

Project Activities Project activities should include: 1) convening a meeting of experts to identify key methodological issues in prostate cancer boundary analysis; and 2) research and/or field testing to compare and evaluate different boundary analysis methods for state-based CCC programs. The meeting of experts should include representatives from state-based CCC programs as well as academic researchers. Several examples of topics for the meeting agenda might include: 1) identification of outstanding questions regarding prostate cancer boundary analysis; 2) discussion about limitations of existing methods; and 3) brainstorming about possible new methods.

Project research and/or field testing activities should be designed to systematically compare and evaluate key questions about prostate cancer boundary analysis methods. Several examples of potential topics of interest might include: 1) What information should be included in an information frame describing the boundary analysis method? 2) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the various methods? 3) How should difference boundaries be used by CCC programs? 4) If information is available from different data sources (e.g., demographics, screening, incidence, mortality, survival, treatment, or costs), what methods should be used to identify and compare differences in the boundaries for the different types of data? and 5) What decision trees should be followed by staff in cancer registry and CCC programs who need to evaluate prostate cancer spatial patterns (e.g., should multiple types of boundary analyses be conducted? If so, which ones? and in what order?)

The first six (6) months of project activities should be reserved for activities that do not require data analysis, such as convening the meeting of experts, developing a protocol meeting CDC Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, and obtaining any necessary local or CDC IRB approvals. Project activities should include developing at least three articles suitable for publication in a scientific journal.

Preference will be given to proposals that include documentation of: · active participation in the project by a state-based CCC program; and · ability to successfully obtain and protect the confidentiality of the prostate cancer data to be included in the study.

Total Years of Project Length: Three (3) years

Total funding (direct and indirect) availability by project year: $250,000 per year

Is this PEP Non-research or Research: Research