title: PLCO: Evolution of an Epidemiologic Resource and Opportunities for Future Studies.
abstract: The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO), a large-scale, multi-institutional, randomized controlled trial, was launched in 1992 to evaluate the effectiveness of screening modalities for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer. However, PLCO was additionally designed to serve as an epidemiologic resource and the National Cancer Institute has invested substantial resources over the years to accomplish this goal. In this report, we provide a summary of changes to PLCO's follow-up after conclusion of the screening phase of the trial and highlight recent data and biospecimen collections, including ancillary studies, geocoding, administration of a new medication use questionnaire, consent for linkage to Medicare, and additional tissue collection that enhance the richness of the PLCO resource and provide further opportunities for scientific investigation into the prevention, early detection, etiology and treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Rockville, USA. blacka@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Wen-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mabie
authors.forename: Sunitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ragard
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermansen
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinsky
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Prorok
authors.forename: Neal D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Hoover
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D054547:National Cancer Institute (U.S.); D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States