Our Concord Hospital Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Database
In 1971, in collaboration with Head of Anatomical Pathology and members of the Colorectal Unit established the Concord Hospital Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Database. In 2021, the department celebrated 50 years of uninterrupted, comprehensive, prospective, computerised documentation of some 6,150 patients who had a resection for primary colorectal cancer at Concord Hospital to the end of December 2020.
Initially, patients operated on by all surgeons at Concord were entered into the database, however since 1981, with the formation of specialist units, only those patients operated by members of the Colorectal Unit have been entered into the study. Importantly, since 1971, the Department of Anatomical Pathology has maintained an archival library of tissue blocks of all tumour specimens together with over 40 variables of pathology information on each and every patient entered into the Registry.
In 2003, a Biobank was established to collect and store fresh tissue suitable for molecular genetics and proteomic research and the capability to perform large-scale tissue microarray studies was included in 2006. In 2017, the Registry successfully renewed its ethics approval for a further 5 years from both the Sydney Local Health District and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It remains a long-term, continuing, prospective study of patients designed to study the natural history of colorectal cancer.
The database remains fully operational with the assistance of Clinical Associate Professor Charles Chan (Anatomical Pathology), Conjoint Professor/research affiliate Dr Owen Dent (biostatistician) and Ms Gael Sinclair (database manager). To 2016, this Registry has produced over 200 peer-reviewed publications in the medical press, together with 7 higher doctorates/or PhD theses including one MS by research. It encourages nationwide collaboration with other research departments. The database has permitted an in depth, longitudinal study of the natural history of CRC with the emphasis on patient audit, assessing different operations and surgical techniques, different treatment algorithms, diagnostic and staging studies, assessment of potential biomarkers, selective use of adjuvant therapies, comparison of end-results and counselling patients and their families. None of this would be possible without the support and commitment of Hospital Management, the surgeons, nurses and allied health staff of the Colorectal Unit and the Department of Anatomical Pathology, Concord Hospital.