Etzioni Lab Projects: Modeling and Outcomes Research in Prostate Cancer

Dr. Etzioni's work focuses on the development and implementation of statistical methods for prostate cancer studies.

Biomarker Development
Dr. Etzioni is an affiliate investigator on the Data Management Coordination Center for Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) and continues to work with network statisticians on methods for biomarker development.

Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET)
This study aims to determine the population impact of changing strategies for prostate cancer control, by linking trends in disease incidence and mortality with trends in screening and treatment. Our methods combine simulation models and maximum likelihood analysis to shed light on two of the most active controversies in prostate cancer research: the value of PSA screening versus advances in prostate cancer treatment, and the link between disparities in care and racial differences in prostate cancer outcomes.

Outcomes Based Guideline Development for Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment (Guidelines)
Clinical practice guidelines for prostate cancer screening impact millions of men at risk of a prostate cancer diagnosis. The research aims to improve how these guidelines are produced by providing policy makers with a computerized decision support tool that will quantify the benefit-harm tradeoffs associated with candidate guidelines.

Pacific Northwest Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE)
As leader of the biostatistics core for the Northwest Prostate Cancer SPORE, Dr. Etzioni has developed methods for analyzing immunohistochemical studies, and combining results from microarray experiments, while working with SPORE investigators to select the most appropriate design and analysis approaches for a broad array of studies.

CANTRANce: A tool to translate intermediate endpoints to mortality in CE studies (CANTRANce)

Many cost effectiveness studies comparing methods to prevent, treat, or cure cancer do not have the time or the information to evaluate how the approaches being studied affect cancer deaths. Our goal is to develop a software system to translate the results of these studies into projections of the effects of the methods being compared on deaths due to the disease.

Primary Prevention versus Screening for Prostate Cancer (Prev vs Screen)
The objective of this research is to provide a quantitative framework for researchers and policy makers developing prevention and screening programs to control prostate cancer. This project develops a comprehensive computer microsimulation model of prostate cancer prevention and screening, and uses the model together with data from the PCPT to project the incremental costs and benefits of different strategies combining finasteride with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening.

In addition to these projects, her current interests include modeling the development of resistance to androgen ablation therapy.