Modeling Approach

A major accomplishment of CISNET has been to build an infrastructure for the comparative analysis of population-based models to answer important policy-based questions.

CISNET's flexible broad-based disease models incorporate a central cancer model, which is modified by the full range of cancer control interventions (i.e., changing risk factor profiles of the population, new screening modalities, and treatment regimens). Outputs can include the full range of the benefits and costs of the interventions.

General Formulation of CISNET Models

General formulation of CISNET models that can handle the full range of intervention inputs.

The following figure demonstrates a specific example in which the adenoma-carcinoma natural history sequence of colorectal cancer is modeled. Risk factors can modify the onset and progression rates of adenomas, screening detects (and potentially removes) pre-cancerous lesions and pre-clinical cancer, and treatment alters post-diagnosis survival rates. Flexible models of this type can be easily adapted to incorporate new technologies as they are developed.

Colorectal Microsimulation

Example of a colorectal microsimulation, including a natural history model that can be altered by interventions.

To read high-level summaries or more technical information about CISNET models, visit CISNET Model Documentation.