Imaging biomarker roadmap for cancer studies

Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2017 Mar;14(3):169-186. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.162. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

Abstract

Imaging biomarkers (IBs) are integral to the routine management of patients with cancer. IBs used daily in oncology include clinical TNM stage, objective response and left ventricular ejection fraction. Other CT, MRI, PET and ultrasonography biomarkers are used extensively in cancer research and drug development. New IBs need to be established either as useful tools for testing research hypotheses in clinical trials and research studies, or as clinical decision-making tools for use in healthcare, by crossing 'translational gaps' through validation and qualification. Important differences exist between IBs and biospecimen-derived biomarkers and, therefore, the development of IBs requires a tailored 'roadmap'. Recognizing this need, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) assembled experts to review, debate and summarize the challenges of IB validation and qualification. This consensus group has produced 14 key recommendations for accelerating the clinical translation of IBs, which highlight the role of parallel (rather than sequential) tracks of technical (assay) validation, biological/clinical validation and assessment of cost-effectiveness; the need for IB standardization and accreditation systems; the need to continually revisit IB precision; an alternative framework for biological/clinical validation of IBs; and the essential requirements for multicentre studies to qualify IBs for clinical use.

Publication types

  • Consensus Development Conference
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor*
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Folic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms / economics
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Prognosis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Research Design / standards
  • Selection Bias

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • technetium 99m etarfolatide
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Folic Acid

Grants and funding