Pursuing Data Modernization in Cancer Surveillance by Developing a Cloud-Based Computing Platform: Real-Time Cancer Case Collection

Abstract

Cancer surveillance is a field focused on collection of data to evaluate the burden of cancer and apply public health strategies to prevent and control cancer in the community. A key challenge facing the cancer surveillance community is the number of manual tasks required to collect cancer surveillance data, thereby resulting in possible delays in analysis and use of the information. To modernize and automate cancer data collection and reporting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning, developing, and piloting a cancer surveillance cloud-based computing platform (CS-CBCP) with standardized electronic reporting from laboratories and health-care providers. With this system, automation of the cancer case collection process and access to real-time cancer case data can be achieved, which could not be done before. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of continuity of operations plans, and the CS-CBCP has the potential to provide such a platform suitable for remote operations of central cancer registries.

Consensus-based framework for evaluating data modernization initiatives: the case of cancer registration and electronic reporting

“…As part of its DMI activities, CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control is developing and testing innovative solutions to improve cancer surveillance data quality and timeliness. 5–7 Data from cancer registries serve a vital role in assessing cancer burden and improving health outcomes by providing details on cancer incidence along with mortality and survival data through linkages with state vital records. 8 , 9 Each year, cancer registries identify, process, and submit approximately 1.7 million reportable cancer cases to the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) as part of ongoing population-based cancer surveillance efforts in the United States.…”

“…Current modernization efforts are focused on increasing automation in transferring and processing data, with the overall goal of providing timely data for decision-making. 5 , 7 …”

“…To modernize cancer data collection and reporting, NPCR is developing and testing a cancer surveillance cloud-based computing platform (CS-CBCP). 5 The goal of CS-CBCP is to offer an infrastructure that will allow cancer registries to engage in real-time cancer incidence case collection. This will be facilitated through centralized repositories for source data; increased automation and use of natural language processing; matching algorithms for tumors and patients; and rapid processes for reporting data.…”