Understanding Pathways between Diagnostic Route and Cancer Survival
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Pathways between Diagnostic Route and Cancer Survival
IRAS ID
263493
Contact name
Linda Sharp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Background: Survival rates for many cancers are lower in the UK than in other countries. This may be partly due to late diagnosis. Initiatives to address this have been introduced, including the urgent referral route to diagnosis (RTD) (i.e. “2-week wait pathway”). In the UK, RTD - the route a cancer patient follows to the point of diagnosis - predicts their subsequent survival. However, we do not understand how RTD influences survival: for example, does it affect survival directly or through other factors, such as cancer stage and treatment? This project will investigate these “mechanisms”.
Aims: We aim to: further develop a novel statistical method for analysis of cancer survival; and use this to investigate how RTD affects survival.
Methods: We have developed a novel method for analysing survival which allows mechanisms to be investigated. In phase 1, we will refine the method, so that it is more robust and better accomodates important features of cancer data. In phase 2, we will analyse RTD and survival for breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers diagnosed in England since 2006. For each cancer, we will develop a theory of how 2-week wait and other major diagnostic routes (such as emergency presentation) influence survival, using literature, and PPI and clinical input. We will test these theories using our statistical method.
How the results will be used: The findings will be able to inform policy by suggesting the types of service changes that might be needed to improve cancer survival in the UK.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0370
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion