Geospatial approaches to cancer control and population sciences at the United States cancer centers

Abstract

Purpose Geospatial, contextual, and multilevel research is integral to cancer prevention and control. NCI-designated Cancer Centers are at the forefront of cancer research, therefore this paper sought to review the geospatial, contextual, and multilevel research at these cancer centers. Methods Investigators used PubMed and Web of Science to compile geospatial publications from 1971 to February 2016 with cancer center-affiliated authors. Relevant abstracts were pulled and classified by six geospatial approaches, eight geospatial scales, and eight cancer sites. Results The searches identified 802 geospatial, contextual, and multilevel publications with authors affiliated at 60 of the 68 NCI-designated Cancer Centers. Over 90% were published after 2000. Five cancer centers accounted for approximately 50% of total publications, and 30 cancer centers (less than half) accounted for over 85% of total publications. Publications covered all geospatial approaches and scales to varying degrees, and 90% dealt with cancer. Conclusions The NCI-designated Cancer Center network is increasingly pursuing geospatial, contextual, and multilevel cancer research, although many cancer centers still conduct limited to no research in this area. Expanding geospatial efforts to research programs across all cancer centers will further enrich cancer prevention and control. Similar reviews may benefit other domestic and international cancer research institutions.

Current State of Geospatial Methodologic Approaches in Canadian Population Oncology Research

“…Web-based interactive mapping applications and geospatial tools and resources are publicly available through the NCI GIS Portal (5). Peer-reviewed publications using spatial analyses of U.S. data are also widely available and increasingly common (2). Similar initiatives have been demonstrated by international peers and organizations, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR; refs.…”

“…Geospatial methodologies were further classified as: identifying spatial associations, proximity analysis, cluster detection, exposure assessment, or descriptive mapping. These categories were chosen to enable comparisons with a previous review of geospatial population oncology research in the United States (2). Descriptions and examples for each category are listed in Table 1 (14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

“…Geospatial analysis in population oncology research utilizes spatial data to associate geographic information, cancer and relevant determinants (1). It is used across the cancer control continuum to increase understanding of cancer etiology, identify at-risk populations, and inform health service provision (2,3). Recent advancements in geospatial methods have coincided with increases in geospatial applications to population oncology (1)(2)(3).…”

“…It is used across the cancer control continuum to increase understanding of cancer etiology, identify at-risk populations, and inform health service provision (2,3). Recent advancements in geospatial methods have coincided with increases in geospatial applications to population oncology (1)(2)(3). Such advances include developments of analytic tools, methodologic approaches, and technologic capacity in geographic information systems (GIS; refs.…”

“…In the United States, geospatial applications are strongly supported by national agencies such as the NCI (2)(3)(4). The NCI has long supported efforts to develop and improve disease mapping related to cancer incidence, mortality, and survival.…”