Update on outcomes research databases in prostate cancer 2006

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to summarize single-institution prostate-cancer outcomes databases (which are most commonly derived from large academic medical centers, Veterans Affairs medical centers, and military hospitals) to summarize the design and development of three well characterized outcomes databases that combine data from multiple sites (Carcinoma of the Prostate Strategic Urological Research Endeavor, Center for Prostate Disease Research, and the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital database) and to use the examples of obesity and prostate-specific antigen changes over time to highlight the importance of these databases in prostate-cancer outcomes. Recent findings Multiple databases have demonstrated that obese men are at greater risk of biochemical progression following radical prostatectomy. In addition objective data have shown that is is more difficult to operate on obese men leading to greater risk of positive surgical margins, which may contribute to poorer outcomes. Several databases have shown that a rapidly increasing prostate specific antigen, measured either before diagnosis or after failed primary therapy is associated wit increased risk of prostate-cancer-specific mortality. Summary Outcomes databases are extremely useful tools. They have lead to dramatic improvements of our understanding of prostate cancer. The challenge is to use this information from past patients to help us better manage our current and future patients.