# Guy’s Cancer Cohort: Guy’s Cancer Centre’s Real-World Evidence Programme 5 years later

## TL;DR

The Guy’s Cancer Cohort is a real-world evidence database that collects anonymized cancer data to support research and improve patient care.

## Contribution

The cohort has been renewed and expanded to include new and recurrent cancer cases, enhancing real-world evidence capabilities.

## Key findings

- The cohort supports over 40 publications and informs cancer care and policy.
- EPIC integration will improve data integration and linkage capabilities.
- The database includes diverse clinical data from around 8000 annual cancer cases.

## Abstract

As the burden of cancer rises, the value of real-world data in addressing clinically relevant research questions is increasingly recognised. The Guy’s Cancer Real-World Evidence Programme, initiated in 2018 at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust (GSTT), informs decision making and local policy. Within this programme, the Guy’s Cancer Cohort (GCC) database has amplified real-world evidence (RWE) capabilities and improved data internalisation. GCC was renewed by the Research Ethics Committee in May 2023 (Ref: 23/NW/0105) and expanded to include patients investigated for new or recurrent cancer.

GCC includes patients investigated, diagnosed, and/or treated for cancer, enabling case-control studies and the exploration of factors linked to cancer diagnosis. Annually, ∼8000 cancers are diagnosed at Guy’s Cancer Centre. Only pseudonymised data are processed, and the database aligns with the National Health Service national opt-out scheme. Clinical data captured include demographics, tumour characteristics, treatments, quality of life, and imaging data.

GCC provides essential infrastructure to explore clinical, mechanistic, and supportive care research questions. Its renewal and expansion optimise data collection and linkage, improving patient care and outcomes. Applications for pseudonymised datasets can be directed to cancerdata@gstt.nhs.uk.

•GCC: RWE database with anonymised data on 8000+ annual cases.•RWE impact: cohort data aided 40+ publications, shaping cancer care and policy.•Data and infrastructure: cohort captures diverse data; EPIC will enhance integration.•Access and collaboration: reviewed data requests enable research on clinical studies.

GCC: RWE database with anonymised data on 8000+ annual cases.

RWE impact: cohort data aided 40+ publications, shaping cancer care and policy.

Data and infrastructure: cohort captures diverse data; EPIC will enhance integration.

Access and collaboration: reviewed data requests enable research on clinical studies.