The New Mexico Tumor Registry (NMTR) at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Cancer Research and Treatment Center operates a population-based cancer registry for the entire state of New Mexico and the American Indian population of Arizona. The NMTR is a member of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) and is a resource for many cancer researchers. The NMTR data are used extensively in descriptive and analytic epidemiological studies. Ethnic/racial groups represented in the state include people of Hispanic, American Indian, non-Hispanic White, Asian and African American origin. Many different study designs can be used to identify disease trends, patterns and risk factors. Recently, the case-control design has been used to evaluate prostate and colon cancers in the New Mexico population. The purpose of this presentation is to identify and discuss methodological issues concerning conducting case-control studies in a cancer surveillance registry. Advantages and limitations to the case-control design specific to the registry setting will be addressed including: sources for sample selection for control participants, cost-effectiveness, human research review issues, tracking subjects over time and confidentiality.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) Identify issues involved in conducting a case-control study at a cancer registry, 2) Discuss advantages and limitations to using the case-control design in a disease-specific registry setting
Keywords: Surveillance, Cancer
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.