Completed Projects
CARET
The Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the cancer prevention efficacy and safety of a daily combination of 30 mg of ß-carotene and 25,000 IU of retinyl palmitate in 18,314 persons at high risk for lung cancer. We studied two high-risk populations: 4,060 men with extensive occupational exposure to asbestos, and 7,965 men and 6,289 women with at least 20 pack-years of cigarette smoking history. CARET began in 1985 with two pilot studies and expanded to six sites beginning in 1988. The CARET intervention was halted in January 1996, 21 months ahead of schedule, with the twin conclusions for definitive evidence of no benefit and substantial evidence of a harmful effect of the intervention on both lung cancer incidence and total mortality (NEJM 334:1150-5, 1996; JNCI 88:1550-9, 1996). Lung cancer incidence and cardiovascular disease mortality findings during the first six years of post-intervention follow-up were published in 2004 (JNCI 96:1743-50, 2004). As of June 30, 2005, CARET stopped active follow-up of CARET participants. CARET, led by PI Dr. Marian Neuhouser, continues to support the extensive biological repository and ancillary studies that utilize the CARET samples and data.
PROSPR
The Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process (PROSPR) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded initiative, that supported research centers and a coordination center in two separate funding cycles over 10 years. During PROSPR I, the PROSPR Statistical Coordinating Center (SCC) led by PIs Drs. William Barlow and Mark Thornquist, established and operated a central data repository for pooled data (gathered by research centers) on the screened populations, the screening process and clinical outcomes involving breast, cervical and colorectal cancers. The SCC provided analytical analyses for over 25 publications to date, along with being lead authors on approximately 10 papers.
PROSPR II, had three research centers, representing nine health systems, and one coordinating center. The PROSPR Coordinating Center (PCC), led by PIs Drs. Christopher Li, William Barlow, and Yingye Zheng, led efforts on multi-level screening process factors, quality measures, data harmonization, and social determinants of health disparities involving cervical, lung and colorectal cancers. The PCC:
- Led efforts to optimize and standardize terminology, data collection, processing, and exchange across all three cancers, including quality control, management of pooled data, and oversight for the analysis and sharing of the data with investigators.
- Provided logistical infrastructure for the PROSPR Research Centers and facilitated trans-PROSPR functions and activities, including maintaining the PROSPR secure website (PROSPR I), facilitating working group meeting and calls, hosting related webinars and organizing the semi-annual investigators meetings.
TREC
The Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative that supported eight research centers and one coordination center in two separate funding cycles, 2005-2010 and 2011-2016. The TREC Coordination Center, in partnership with the four research centers in each grant cycle, fostered collaboration among transdisciplinary teams of scientists with the goal of accelerating progress toward reducing cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality associated with obesity, low levels of physical activity, and poor diet. The centers also provided training opportunities for new and established scientists who could carry out integrative research on energy balance and cancer outcomes. The TREC initiative complemented NCI’s other energy balance research endeavors as well as efforts of the NIH Obesity Task Force. COMPASS served as the Coordination Center (CC), by supporting communication, dissemination, data sharing and collaboration across the TREC initiative in both cycles and continued until May 31, 2017.
OPMSS
The Olestra Post-Marketing Surveillance Study (OPMSS) was a series of three related, prospective, observational studies of the patterns of consumption of olestra-containing snacks and their association with serum concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids. The first study used repeated annual random-digit dial (RDD) telephone surveys to collect population-level data on the prevalence and patterns of olestra consumption; the second collected serum and extensive covariate information from volunteers drawn from each of the RDD surveys; and the third followed a cohort chosen to include a high percentage of olestra consumers. The study was conducted at four sites between 1996 and 2001. The OPMSS completed approximately 15,000 RDD cross-sectional telephone calls, 8,000 cross-sectional clinic visits and followed a cohort of 2,000 for three years, completing 25,000 follow-up calls and 5,500 follow-up visits.
Collaborations
ACC
The Asian Cancer Consortium (ACC) is part of the Fred Hutch Global Health Research Initiative. COMPASS assisted the ACC Coordinating Center by providing statistical services, common data elements, a web-based specimen tracking system and distribution mailing lists.
CATPAC
COMPASS developed a web-based communication tool, specimen tracking system and secure data transfer feature for the Center for Accelerated Translation in Pancreatic Cancer (CATPAC), a joint Fred Hutch/UWSeattle Cancer Care Alliance effort planned to improve the standard-of-care for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
ColoCare
COMPASS developed a web-based specimen tracking system for the ColoCare Study which is a study of colorectal cancer patients in western Washington state. The study aims to provide a resource for scientists interested in research questions on colorectal cancer survival, prognosis and diagnostics, through the creation of a specimen biorepository.
CTSO
COMPASS developed an online key-entry system for a head and neck cancer study coordinated by the Clinical Trials Support Office (CTSO) at the Fred Hutch. The system collected participant data for the study and produced analytic datasets.
GECCO
COMPASS participated in the data harmonization and common data element development efforts for the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO) Coordinating Center at the Fred Hutch and developed a web-based data transfer and archiving system for GECCO. GECCO is a collaborative effort of researchers from North America, Australia and Europe, using data from approximately 40,000 participants to discover colorectal cancer-related variants.
CORECT
COMPASS participated in the data harmonization and common data element development efforts for the ColoRectal Transdisciplinary Study (CORECT) which is part of the NCI Post-GWAS Initiative with the following goal: Develop a comprehensive strategy for the discovery of genetic contributions to colorectal cancer, elucidation of the functional consequences of the genetic variation, and to expedite their translation into clinical and public health applications.
PC LIMS
COMPASS provided a web-based specimen information management system to the Prevention Center (PC), a shared resource at the Fred Hutch. The Prevention Center contained a state-of-the-art exercise facility, a human nutrition laboratory for feeding studies and a clinical facility that conducted study interviews, collected medical history and physical exam data, and supported biospecimen collection, indirect calorimetry and body composition for single-facility or custom multiple-facility use studies.
PHS Virtual Repository
COMPASS implemented a needs assessment survey to members of Fred Hutch Public Health Sciences (PHS) Division who have biospecimen repositories. COMPASS completed a census and then launched a proof of concept web-based virtual repository allowing PHS investigators to search and view the various repositories housed within the PHS Division of Fred Hutch.
TOPS-CCS
COMPASS provided bioinformatics support to TOPS Clinical Correlative Studies (CCS) which was a 5-year project funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation that consisted of laboratories located in the United States, Europe, Australia and Korea. COMPASS provided TOPS-CCS with a communication tool, protocol registration system and a web-based specimen tracking system.