Predicting clinical end points: treatment nomograms in prostate cancer.
Due to the generally indolent nature of prostate cancer, patients must decide among a wide range of treatments, which will significantly affect both quality of life and survival. Thus, there is a need for instruments to aid patients and their physicians in decision analysis. Nomograms are instruments that predict outcomes for the individual patient. Using algorithms that incorporate multiple variables, nomograms calculate the predicted probability that a patient will reach a clinical end point of interest. Nomograms tend to outperform both expert clinicians and predictive instruments based on risk grouping. We outline principles for nomogram construction, including considerations for choice of clinical end points and appropriate predictive variables, and methods for model validation. Currently, nomograms are available to predict progression-free probability after several primary treatments for localized prostate cancer. There is need for additional models that predict other clinical end points, especially survival adjusted for quality of life.
Di Blasio
Christopher J
CJ
Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Rhee
Audrey C
AC
Cho
Daniel
D
Scardino
Peter T
PT
Kattan
Michael W
MW
D000465:Algorithms; D001706:Biopsy; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D002138:Calibration; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen