Urolink data bank on prostate cancer: longitudinal results after two years of activity

UroLink represents a research project aiming to create the first Italian data bank on patients with pathological proslatic tumors. The main objectives staled for the development of this research are: • descriptive epidemiology to study the natural history of the disease • clinical investigation to collect medical information on disease evolution and to address a better therapeutical-management approach for the subject. MATERIALS METHODS 21 national Urology dpts. were provided with a common protocol to gather medical-social information for every consecutive patient (at entry and follow-up visits). Data are registered on a computerized case report form. Individual data set collection are periodically sent to the main storage data bank (Link Italia, MO-I) for quality control and progressive filing. Over 800 cases and 1200 visits of CA prostatic patients have been currently registered after 24 months RESULTS 723 patients (mean age: 68.5 ± 7.0) have been analyzed, 70% of which are first referral visits giving an indirect estimation of new diagnosed cases. A positive family history for tumor is recorded in 1/4 of the data bank (of which 16% breast, 14% prostate, 11% gastric, 9.6% liver cancer respectively). ORE and TRUS are largely utilized (> 90%). According to TNM classification T1 (20%), T2 (44%), T3 (28%) and T4 (5%) primary tumors are prevalent; no regional lymph nodes or distant metastases are evident in > 84% of pts. Hormonal (>80%) or surgical therapy (57%) are the prevalent curative treatments. At follow up (271 cases at 1 year; 158 at 2 yy.), a progression (14.5%), stabilization (41.7%), full (14.5%) or partial (29.3%) response are observed.