Follow up of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study

Follow-up of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study Cohort The National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with the National Institute for Health and Welfare of Helsinki, Finland formerly the National Public Health Institute (NPHI)for a follow-on study entitled, - Follow up of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Prevention (ATBC) Study Cohort. This is a follow-on of the existing contract N01-RC-37004 with the NPHI, who has been the prime contractor for this on-going project since 1984. This study has been an international collaboration between the NCI and the Finnish NPHI and has been a major scientific resource for NCI that encompasses nutritional, environmental, biomarker, and other data, as well as biological specimens for molecular and genetic investigations. The original primary activity was the ATBC Trial, a large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, primary prevention trial conducted in Finland (because of historically high lung-cancer rates) that tested the effects of alpha-tocopherol ( vitamin E) and beta-carotene supplements on the incidence of and mortality from lung and other cancers. After feasibility studies, the trial was launched in 1985 based on the epidemiologic and experimental data that supported a role for beta-carotene and vitamin E in the prevention of cancer. The study showed a dramatic 32% reduction in prostate cancer from beta-carotene treatment. This controlled trial phase of the project was completed in 1993 as part of NCI contract CN-45165 with the Finnish NPHI. Following completion of the original prevention trial, passive surveillance of the ATBC Study Cohort for cancer incidence and cause-specific mortality was implemented through follow-on of the contract with the Finnish NPHI (contract NCI-CN-45035 and NCI-RC-37004) that supported the NCI's ongoing study of long term effects of the study agents and investigation of timely scientific hypotheses related to cancer etiology, prevention, and survival. This research is aimed at the discovery of preventable causes of prostate, lung, colorectal, pancreatic, lymphoid, bladder, renal, and other cancers, and at greater scientific understanding of the effects of various dietary, nutritional, metabolic, genetic, and other molecular factors on cancer risk. The purposes of the renewal contract with the Finnish NPHI are to maintain the cancer and other outcome passive surveillance of the ATBC Study Cohort through the Finnish Cancer and other national registries; to retrieve medical records, pathology specimens, and tumor tissue samples from hospitals and other organizations; and to deliver these materials to the NCI. Only the National Public Health Institute of Finland holds the unique participant identifiers for the ATBC Study population and is in the position to link with the necessary Finnish registries and collect the correct medical and other records/samples for NCI. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only once source under authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to continue with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.