CanCORS Current Status

During the initial funding period, the CanCORS Consortium collected standardized data from two population-based lung cancer and colorectal cancer cohorts of approximately 5,000 patients each. Extensive information was collected about medical care received by the patients over the initial acute treatment phase along with information on the clinical and patient-reported outcomes experienced by the patients during this phase. Baseline and follow-up patient surveys were conducted at approximately 4 and 12 months post-diagnosis, respectively. In addition, standardized data from approximately 4,400 health care providers and approximately 1,600 informal caregivers, as well as salient clinical data from medical records, were collected.

During the second funding period, the Consortium will conduct a detailed assessment of the quality of follow-up care and health outcomes among longer-term survivors of lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Dissemination of CanCORS data and data collection instruments is also a distinct objective.

Results

The organization and aims of CanCORS are described in the following publications from the Consortium:

• Ayanian JZ, Chrischilles EA, Wallace RB, Fletcher RH et al. Understanding cancer treatment and outcomes: The Cancer Care and Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium. J Clin Oncol 2004;22(15):2992-6. [View Full Text]
• Malin JL, Ko C, Ayanian JZ, Harrington D et al. Understanding cancer patients' experience and outcomes: development and pilot study of the Cancer Care and Outcomes Research and Surveillance patient survey. Support Care Cancer 2006;14(8):837-48. [View Abstract]
• American Society of Clinical Oncology. Strengthening the evidence base for quality care across diverse populations. ASCO News & Forum 2006;January:30-2. [View Full Text (PDF)]
• Keating NL, Zaslavsky AM, Herrinton LJ, Selby JV, Wolf RE, Ayanian JZ. Quality of Diabetes Care Among Cancer Survivors With Diabetes. Med Care 2007 Sep;45(9):869-75. [View Abstract]

The following manuscripts are in press.

• Lee IH, Hayman JA, Landrum MB, Tepper J, Tao ML, Goodman KA, Keating NL. Treatment recommendations for locally advanced, non-small cell lung cancer: the influence of physician and patient factors. J Radiat Oncolo Biol Phys, in press.
• Rogers S. Surgeon's volume of CRC procedures and collaborative decision-making about adjuvant therapies. Annals of Surgery 2009, in press.
• Huskamp H, Keating NL, Malin JL, Zaslavsky AM, Weeks JC, Earle CC, Teno JN, Virnig BA, Kahn KL, He Y, Ayanian JZ. Discussions with physicians about hospice among patients with metastastic lung cancer. Arch Intern Med 2009, in press.