Providing access to risk prediction tools via the HL7 XML-formatted risk web service

Jonathan Chipman, Brian Drohan, Amanda Blackford, Giovanni Parmigiani, Kevin Hughes, Phil Bosinoff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cancer risk prediction tools provide valuable information to clinicians but remain computationally challenging. Many clinics find that CaGene or HughesRiskApps fit their needs for easy- and ready-to-use software to obtain cancer risks; however, these resources may not fit all clinics' needs. The HughesRiskApps Group and BayesMendel Lab therefore developed a web service, called "Risk Service", which may be integrated into any client software to quickly obtain standardized and up-to-date risk predictions for BayesMendel tools (BRCAPRO, MMRpro, PancPRO, and MelaPRO), the Tyrer-Cuzick IBIS Breast Cancer Risk Evaluation Tool, and the Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool. Software clients that can convert their local structured data into the HL7 XML-formatted family and clinical patient history (Pedigree model) may integrate with the Risk Service. The Risk Service uses Apache Tomcat and Apache Axis2 technologies to provide an all Java web service. The software client sends HL7 XML information containing anonymized family and clinical history to a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) server, where it is parsed, interpreted, and processed by multiple risk tools. The Risk Service then formats the results into an HL7 style message and returns the risk predictions to the originating software client. Upon consent, users may allow DFCI to maintain the data for future research. The Risk Service implementation is exemplified through HughesRiskApps. The Risk Service broadens the availability of valuable, up-to-date cancer risk tools and allows clinics and researchers to integrate risk prediction tools into their own software interface designed for their needs. Each software package can collect risk data using its own interface, and display the results using its own interface, while using a central, up-to-date risk calculator. This allows users to choose from multiple interfaces while always getting the latest risk calculations. Consenting users contribute their data for future research, thus building a rich multicenter resource.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)187-193
Number of pages7
JournalBreast Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume140
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2013

Keywords

  • BRCAPRO
  • BayesMendel
  • Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
  • IBIS Breast Cancer Risk Evaluation Tool
  • Risk prediction
  • Risk service
  • Web service

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Providing access to risk prediction tools via the HL7 XML-formatted risk web service'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this