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Multicenter Study
. 2023 Jan-Dec:22:15330338221149262.
doi: 10.1177/15330338221149262.

Cancer Research Line (CAREL): Development of Expanded Distributed Research Networks for Prostate Cancer and Lung Cancer

Jihwan Park  1 , Ji Youl Lee  2 , Mi Hyoung Moon  3 , Yong Hyun Park  2 , Mi Jung Rho  4
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Cancer Research Line (CAREL): Development of Expanded Distributed Research Networks for Prostate Cancer and Lung Cancer

Jihwan Park et al. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: Big data-based multicenter medical research is expected to bring significant advances to cancer treatment worldwide. However, there are concerns related to data sharing among multicenter networks. Clinical data can be shielded by firewalls using distributed research networks (DRNs). We attempted to develop DRNs for multicenter research that can be easily installed and used by any institution. Patients and Methods: We propose a DRN for multicenter cancer research called the cancer research line (CAREL) and present a data catalog based on a common data model (CDM). CAREL was validated using 1723 patients with prostate cancer and 14 990 patients with lung cancer in a retrospective study. We used the attribute-value pairs and array data type JavaScript object notation (JSON) format to interface third-party security solutions such as blockchain. Results: We developed visualized data catalogs of prostate and lung cancer based on the observational medical outcomes partnership (OMOP) CDM, from which researchers can easily browse and select relevant data. We made the CAREL source code readily available for download and application for relevant purposes. In addition, it is possible to realize a multicenter research network using CAREL development sources. Conclusion: CAREL source can enable medical institutions to participate in multicenter cancer research. Our technology is open source, so small institutions that cannot afford to spend high costs can use it to develop a platform for multicenter research.

Keywords: cancer research line; common data model; distributed research networks; lung cancer; prostate cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The Mi Jung Rho and Jihwan Park, are married couples. They participated in this project at the time of the research. For the remaining authors, there are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic of a simple distributed research network (DRN).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Cancer Research Line (CAREL) network architecture.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Visualized data catalog screen for variable selection.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Research Process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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