A biostatistical model of prostate cancer outcomes for African-Americans and Caucasians regarding their elevated PSA scores in several three month follow-ups

A24

We have analyzed eight consecutive PSA scores for the African American and Caucasian prostate cancer patients who had a surgical procedure at the University of North Carolina Medical School. This procedure was done by James H. Moeller and two other clinicians at the UNC-CH Medical School. The PSA scores of the patients were measured for several three month follow-ups. We first performed exploratory biostatistical analysis on the patients’ data set. These procedures Included Proc Frequency and Proc Content conducted in SAS9.1, Inc Carey NC. We carefully analyzed this clinical data set with respect to TNM (Tumor, Node, and Metastasis) and in cases where patient data was missing due to the loss to follow-up. We performed survival analysis considering time to relapse as the time to event variable. We have plotted Kaplan-Meier Survival functions computing median survival and patients who died before this study was completed. In addition, I have applied the biostatistical technique of time dependent covariates to investigate the effect of lead-time bias and its possible impact on African American versus Caucasian patients’ clinical outcomes. I have conducted this biostatistical analysis in R2.5.1 Insightful, Inc. Seattle WA.
 [The views expressed in this paper do not reflect those of either the NIH-National Cancer Institute or UNC-Chapel Hill Medical School and its Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.]