ACRIN--lessons learned in conducting multi-center trials of imaging and cancer

The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) is a US National Cancer Institute-funded clinical trials cooperative group charged with conducting multi-center clinical trials of diagnostic imaging and image-guided treatment technologies as they are employed in the detection, diagnosis and staging, treatment, and evaluation of treatment for cancer. Operating since 1999, ACRIN involves participating institutions around the world and hundreds of radiologists, methodologists, and scientists in the 22 trials it has been working on to date, including several large screening trials. The experience with ACRIN has elucidated the unique requirements that must be fulfilled by imaging trials if they are to be successful, particularly in such areas as trials design, definition of technologies and their findings, quality assurance, and ensuring sufficient accrual. ACRIN is now pursuing several courses of action that will disseminate the products devolving from ACRIN trials into the public domain, so that they may benefit other investigators.