The clinical evaluation of novel imaging methods for cancer management

Abstract

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has invested a great deal of resources into examining imaging modalities and agents to improve image-guided interventions and disease monitoring in cancer. In this Perspectives article, the author describes the efforts of the NCI has made to facilitate clinical trials in imaging. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a long-standing interest in evaluating and using the known advantages of molecular and functional imaging, as well as assessing the potential of novel imaging agents and modalities, to improve clinical cancer research and cancer care. In this Perspectives article, I discuss the strategies and resources being used by the NCI to foster and enhance these evaluations. Although resource and logistical challenges abound in successfully mounting these trials, many examples exist of real and potential solutions to improve the clinical evaluation process for imaging agents and modalities in the USA and in international collaborations.