Over the past four years, CRSC has participated as a core facility for a research affiliation with the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN). ACRIN is a cooperative research group under the aegis of the National Cancer Institute. Through National Cancer Institute grant monies, ACRIN has directed a number of large-scale imaging studies focusing on cancer patients. These studies include imaging, image guided, and interventional procedures.

As a core facility, we join the ranks of other institutions such as Yale University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, MD Anderson, and others to participate regularly on an on-going basis in ACRIN trials. These trials encompass a broad spectrum of modalities and sites of primary and metastatic cancer.

To date, Clinical Radiologists has participated in the following ACRIN trials:

Protocol #6651: Role of Radiology in the Pretreatment Evaluation of Invasive Cervical Cancer. This study compared FIGO staging to pretreatment staging by CT and MRI for patients with FIGO stage 1B1, 1B2, and IIA who are scheduled for surgery. Accrual for this study is complete.

Protocol #6667: MRI Evaluation of the Contralateral Breast in Women with a Recent Diagnosis of Breast Cancer. The primary aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic yield of MRI in evaluating the contralateral breast of women with a recent unilateral diagnosis of breast cancer and a negative contralateral mammogram and clinical breast exam. Accrual for this study is complete and is in the two-year follow up phase.

Protocol #6664: National CT Colonography Trial. This study was developed to evaluate the sensitivity of CT colonography for detecting participants with at least one proved clinically significant large lesion using colonoscopy as the reference standard. Accrual for this study is to begin March 1, 2005. CRSC is one of only 15 sites nationwide to participate in this study. 150 patients will be accrued at each of the 15 sites.

Pharmaceutical Trials

Clinical Radiologists has also participated in many pharmaceutical trials over the last seven years. These trials include the following: