Panel discussion. Data needs in cancer

A prospective, comprehensive outcomes database was recently initiated by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) after a 2-year study to test data collection methods and systems. It started with data on 400 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer at five NCCN sites, and over the next 3 years is projected to grow to include more than 12,000 patients with common cancers treated at all eligible NCCN sites. Among the goals of the database are: 1) to establish the capability to select, analyze, and report patterns of care and outcomes; 2) to allow NCCN members to assess their compliance with NCCN clinical practice guidelines and benchmark their performance against the rest of the NCCN; 3) to establish a true databased continuous quality improvement program; 4) to support clinical disease-oriented research and methodologic studies; and 5) to provide the NCCN with a vehicle for forging partnerships with others in the health-care field, such as the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and accrediting bodies. Many of those potential partners were represented on this panel. Panelists discussed the data needs of their organizations, what they are doing to meet those needs, and how a comprehensive database will ultimately help improve patient care.