02-19727. Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extended Lung Cancer Incidence Follow-Up for the Mayo Lung Project Participants

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

Collection: Title: Extended Lung Cancer Incidence Follow-Up for the Mayo Lung Project Participants.

Type of Information Collection Request: EXTENSION, OMB No. 0925-0496, expiration date 10-31-2002.

Need and Use of Information Collection: The Mayo Lung Project (MLP) was an NCI-funded randomized controlled trial (RCT) of lung cancer screening conducted among 9,211 male smokers from 1971 to 1983. No reduction in lung cancer mortality was observed in the MLP with an intense regimen of x-ray and sputum cytology screening. Recent analysis of updated mortality and case survival data (through 1996) suggests that lesions with little-to-no clinical relevance (over-diagnosis may have been detected through screening in the MLP intervention arm. Over-diagnosis leads to unnecessary medical interventions, including diagnostic and treatment procedures that carry with them varying degrees of risk. Consequently, over-diagnosis can result in considerable harm, including premature death, that would not have occurred in the absence of screening. The persistence, after screening ends, of an excess of lung cancer cases in the intervention arm is the strongest evidence in support of over-diagnosis, but this information cannot be adequately obtained with available MLP data. Therefore, we propose to re-contact the MLP participants and/or their next-of-kin to determine the participants who were diagnosed with lung cancer after the formal end of the Project. These data will allow the NCI to either more-convincingly state or perhaps refute the possibility of over-diagnosis in lung cancer screening, and may be used to guide future research agendas and lung cancer screening policies.

Frequency of response: Once.

Affected public: Individuals.

Type of respondents: MLP participants or their next-of-kin. The annual reporting burden is as follows:

Maximum number of respondents: 6,223;

Estimated number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden Hours Per Response: 0.25;

Estimated Maximum Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 1,556. The annualized cost to respondents is estimated at zero. There are no Capital Costs to report. There are no Operating or Maintenance Costs to report.

Request for comments: Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following points: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact: Dr. Pamela Marcus, Epidemiologist, Biometry Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Suite 3131 EPN, 6130 Executive Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20892-7354; or call non-toll free 301-496-7468; or email [e-mail].

Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days of the date of this publication.

Dated: July 29, 2002.

Reesa L. Nichols,

NCI Project Clearance Liaison.