A DATA BASE FOR CANCER.

A DATA BASE FOR CANCER RESEARCH. I have argued, for example here, that there should be a lot more data collection and statistical analysis on the thousands of cancer cases that are treated each year and took particular note that “all the off-label uses of cancer drugs (estimated to be about 75% of cancer drug use) for which the results of treatment are apparently not systematically studied.” This article in the Wall Street Journal (February 9) by Avery Johnson reports that UnitedHealth Group has been collecting clinical information about treatment of individual patients from over 1300 oncologists for three years. This could and should provide a database for large sample statistical analyses. They would not be clinical gold standard controlled experiments. They should, however, provide suggestive information about the effects of different treatments on tumors with a range of characteristics. I would think that young researchers would be eager to get hold of the data.