Statistical Analysis of Prostate Brachytherapy Treatment Data

This project is a continuation of a previous internship that made use of longitudinal data on patients with prostate cancer obtained over a period of fifteen to seventeen years to initiate a long-term comparison of external-beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy treatments. The key objective is to demonstrate that Brachytherapy treatments offer the best outcomes at the lowest cost in comparison to other treatment modalities. Much work has been completed; however a great deal more still remains. Statistical analyses based on Kaplan-Meier curves, logistic regression, and transition models will be continued. Transition models are used to analyze data where a strong dependence is suspected between successive observations on a patient. They allow for transitions into and out of a set of states defined by the response variable instead of focusing on the time for a certain event to occur. The probability estimates derived from this type of model can enable the determination of the expected years gained in remission by one treatment over the other as well as a comparison of expected costs for these treatments. The partner organization, Best Medical Canada, expects to reference the above research in the interest of promoting the Brachytherapy products that it manufactures.

Faculty Supervisor:

Patrick Farrell

Student:

Partner:

Best Medical Canada

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Carleton University

Program: