The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and Pathology

Abstract

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute collects data on cancer diagnoses, treatment and survival for approximately 30% of the United States (U.S.) population. To reflect advances in research and oncology practice, approaches to cancer control are evolving from simply enumerating the development of cancers by organ sites in populations to include monitoring of cancer occurrence by histopathologic and molecular subtype, as defined by driver mutations and other alterations. SEER is an important population-based resource for understanding the implications of pathology diagnoses across demographic groups, geographic regions, and time, and provides unique insights into the practice of oncology in the U.S that are not attainable from other sources. It provides incidence, survival and mortality data for histopathologic cancer subtypes, and data by molecular subtyping is expanding. The program is developing systems to capture additional biomarker data, results from special populations, and expand bio-specimen banking to enable cutting edge cancer research that can improve oncology practice. Pathology has always been central and critical to the effectiveness of SEER, and strengthening this relationship in this modern era of cancer diagnosis could be mutually beneficial. Achieving this goal requires close interactions between pathologists and the SEER program. This review provides a brief overview of SEER, focuses on facets relevant to pathology practice and research, and highlights the opportunities and challenges for pathologists to benefit from and enhance the value of SEER data.

The appropriate number of negative lymph nodes dissection for nonmetastatic penile cancer

“…Clinical and pathological characteristics of patients were identified from the SEER database (Duggan, Anderson, Altekruse, Penberthy, & Sherman, ). In total, 18 cancer registries covering approximately 28% of the US population (based on 2010 census) in the current SEER database were found.…”

Competing‐risks model for predicting the prognosis of penile cancer based on the SEER database

“…The SEER program includes 18 registries that cover 30% of the United States population and collects demographic, clinical, and outcome information on all cancers diagnosed in representative geographic regions and subpopulations of the United States. 15,16 We queried the SEER program database for records from 2004 to 2015 using inclusion criteria of an age at diagnosis ≥ 18 years and the following site codes of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3): C60.1 (glans penis), C60.2 (body of penis), C60.8 (overlapping lesion of penis), and C60.9 (penis NOS). The exclusion criteria were (a) no surgery, diagnosis, or microscopy confirmation, (b) only autopsy findings, or (c) incomplete variables.…”

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals identity and heterogeneity of malignant osteoblast cells and TME in osteosarcoma

“…In recent years, the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) have appeared outstanding due to their effectiveness. However, as stated by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, the five-year overall survival rate for patients with bone sarcoma is 66.2% (2009 to 2015) [4]. According to the published data, the relapse and/or metastasis rate of OS remains to be higher than 30%.…”