American College of Radiology Imaging Network

描述（由申请人提供）：美国放射学成像网络学院（ACRIN）是一个合作组织，致力于开展与癌症相关的诊断成像和图像引导治疗技术的临床试验。ACRIN的首要目标是开发有助于早期诊断癌症的信息，减轻那些没有癌症的人的担忧，并提高癌症患者的寿命和生活质量。在最初的资助期间，ACRIN开发了基础设施，开展了合作，并启动了18项临床试验。在拟议的资助期内，ACRIN打算开展针对四个关键假设的试验：

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) is a cooperative group dedicated to conducting clinical trials of diagnostic imaging and image-guided therapeutic technologies as they relate to cancer. The overriding goal of ACRIN is to develop information that results in the earlier diagnosis of cancer, allays the concerns of those who do not have cancer, and improves the length and quality of lives of cancer patients. During its initial funding period, ACRIN developed its infrastructure, developed collaborations, and initiated 18 clinical trials. For the proposed funding period, ACRIN intends to conduct trials that address four key hypotheses: i. PET, MRI, and perhaps other functional and metabolic imaging technologies can predict patient response to treatment earlier than conventional anatomic imaging or observing clinical course. ii. Image-guided interventional techniques can locally control the morbidity of cancer and perhaps reduce the mortality. iii. Screening for cancer using imaging technologies can reduce morbidity and mortality. iv. Molecular imaging of metabolic and physiologic processes can improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. In doing so, ACRIN will perform trials of both emerging technologies that could improve cancer care and established technologies where there is the possibility that the technology is being employed inappropriately. ACRIN trials will focus on the cancers which affect the greatest number of individuals, that produce the greatest morbidity and mortality, and that impose the largest financial costs to society.