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Review
. 2013 Nov 20;105(22):1684-93.
doi: 10.1093/jnci/djt281. Epub 2013 Oct 10.

The prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial and its associated research resource

Claire S Zhu  1 , Paul F Pinsky, Barnett S Kramer, Philip C Prorok, Mark P Purdue, Christine D Berg, John K Gohagan
Affiliations
Review

The prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial and its associated research resource

Claire S Zhu et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. .

Abstract

The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial is a large-scale research effort conducted by the National Cancer Institute. PLCO offers an example of coordinated research by both the extramural and intramural communities of the National Institutes of Health. The purpose of this article is to describe the PLCO research resource and how it is managed and to assess the productivity and the costs associated with this resource. Such an in-depth analysis of a single large-scale project can shed light on questions such as how large-scale projects should be managed, what metrics should be used to assess productivity, and how costs can be compared with productivity metrics. A comprehensive publication analysis identified 335 primary research publications resulting from research using PLCO data and biospecimens from 2000 to 2012. By the end of 2012, a total of 9679 citations (excluding self-citations) have resulted from this body of research publications, with an average of 29.7 citations per article, and an h index of 45, which is comparable with other large-scale studies, such as the Nurses' Health Study. In terms of impact on public health, PLCO trial results have been used by the US Preventive Services Task Force in making recommendations concerning prostate and ovarian cancer screening. The overall cost of PLCO was $454 million over 20 years, adjusted to 2011 dollars, with approximately $37 million for the collection, processing, and storage of biospecimens, including blood samples, buccal cells, and pathology tissues.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) research enterprise. DCEG = Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics; DCP = Division of Cancer Prevention; NCI = National Cancer Institute.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Publications by year and by research type. *Enrollment ended in 2001. **Screening ended in 2006. EEMS = Etiologic and Early Marker Studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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