An Internet-ready database for prospective randomized clinical trials of high-dose-rate brachytherapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate a new interactive Internet-ready database for prospective clinical trials in high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for prostate cancer.


METHODS
An Internet-ready database was created that allows common data acquisition and statistical analysis. Patient anonymity and confidentiality are preserved. These data forms include all common elements found from a survey of the databases. The forms allow the user to view patient data in a view-only or edit mode. Eight linked forms document patient data before and after receiving HDR therapy. The pretreatment forms are divided into four categories: staging, comorbid diseases, external beam radiotherapy data, and signs and symptoms. The posttreatment forms separate data by HDR implant information, HDR medications, posttreatment signs and symptoms, and follow-up data. The forms were tested for clinical usefulness.


CONCLUSIONS
This Internet-based database enables the user to record and later analyze all relevant medical data and may become a reliable instrument for the follow-up of patients and evaluation of treatment results.
Devlin
Phillip M
PM
Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. pdevlin@lroc.harvard.edu
Brus
Christina R
CR
Kazakin
Julia
J
Mitchell
Ronald B
RB
Demanes
D Jeffrey
DJ
Edmundson
Gregory
G
Gribble
Michael
M
Gustafson
Gary S
GS
Kelly
Douglas A
DA
Linares
Luis A
LA
Martinez
Alvaro A
AA
Mate
Timothy P
TP
Nag
Subir
S
Perez
Carlos A
CA
Rao
Jaynath G
JG
Rodriguez
Rodney R
RR
Shasha
Daniel
D
Tripuraneni
Prabhakar
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001918:Brachytherapy; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface