SKIN-COBRA (Consortium for Brachytherapy data Analysis) ontology: The first step towards interdisciplinary standardized data collection for personalized oncology in skin cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The primary objective of the SKIN-COBRA (Consortium for Brachytherapy data Analysis) ontology is to define a specific terminological system to standardize data collection for non-melanoma skin cancer patients treated with brachytherapy (BT, interventional radiotherapy). Through ontological characterization of information, it is possible to find, isolate, organize, and integrate its meaning. Material and methods: SKIN-COBRA is a standardized data collection consortium for non-melanoma skin patients treated with BT, including 8 cancer centers. Its ontology was firstly defined by a multicentric and multidisciplinary working group and evaluated by the consortium, followed by a multi-professional technical commission involving a mathematician, an engineer, a physician with experience in data storage, a programmer, and a software expert. Results: Two hundred and ninety variables were defined in 10 input forms. There are 3 levels, with each offering a specific type of analysis: 1. Registry level (epidemiology analysis); 2. Procedures level (standard oncology analysis); 3. Research level (radiomics analysis). The ontology was approved by the technical commission and consortium, and an ad-hoc software system was defined to be implemented in the SKIN-COBRA consortium. Conclusions: Large databases are natural extension of traditional statistical approaches, a valuable and increasingly necessary tool for modern healthcare system. Future analysis of the collected multinational and multicenter data will show whether the use of the system can produce high-quality evidence to support multidisciplinary management of non-melanoma skin cancer and utilizing this information for personalized treatment decisions.

Non-melanoma Skin Cancer Treated by Contact High-dose-rate Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy): A Mono-institutional Series and Literature Review

“…These studies could be based on the development of predictive models based on large databases aimed to improve treatment quality and efficacy, considering the high number of available clinical, molecular, and genetic parameters, and the limits in our cognitive abilities in integrating more than few variables (43). For these reasons, a GEC-ESTRO H&N and Skin Working Group project was recently activated (11).…”

“…Exclusion criteria were as follows: advanced tumors with deep ulcer or deep dermis infiltration, and prior RT on the same anatomical site. Data were retrospectively extracted within the frame of the SKIN-COBRA (Consortium for Brachytherapy data Analysis) system (11).…”

BRAF mutation correlates with worse local–regional control following radiation therapy in patients with stage III melanoma

“…We argue that a more selective delivery of adjuvant RT should be considered in patients based on the results of this study. Without strong randomized evidence, the future analysis of prospectively collected multi-institutional and multi-national data could result in high quality evidence as a surrogate for performing a phase III trial, as is being studied in non-melanoma skin cancers through the SKIN-COBRA large database project [ 32 ].…”

Survival After Combining Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

“…Finally, our study was conducted in a high-volume cancer center, and these results might be difficult to replicate in smaller centers. Future studies with multiple centers involved could reduce this selection bias, especially when standardized data collection and retrieval project has been designed ( 31 ).…”