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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.
PET or SPECT, is that the question? Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) are both tomographic techniques that enable 3D-localization of the tumour and can be combined with CT for hybrid imaging; but is one better that the other? In oncology imaging nothing is black or white, and Rod Hicks and Michael Hofman provide us with an in-depth analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.
Many patients who present with stage III NSCLC are in their 70s with multiple comorbidities who are generally unfit to receive the standard chemoradiotherapy regimen. In this Perspectives article, the author puts forth proposals to advance research within shorter timescales to improve outcomes for patients for whom standard treatment is unavailable.
Treatment of prostate cancer using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) focal therapy could be a reliable treatment option but, are we ready for it? This Perspectives article assesses whether our current methods for cancer diagnosis, tissue targeting, and treatment follow up are accurate enough to allow the design of HIFU focal therapy protocols.
The goal of personalized therapy is to target tumours with the right drug for the right person at the right time. This is not an easy task, and in this Perspectives article, Funda Meric-Bernstam and Gordon B. Mills tell us about the challenges that need to be overcome and how we should temper the current excitement about targeted therapies with realistic expectations.
The use of tumour molecular profiles for therapeutic decision making requires that molecular diagnostics be introduced into routine clinical practice. To this end, the French National Cancer Institute and French Ministry of Health have set up a national network of 28 regional molecular genetics centres. In this Perspectives article, the authors look at the 4-year history of the French initiative and discuss its success in rapidly implementing molecular tests for new tumour biomarkers.
A multidisciplinary colloquium—Developing Strategies for Reducing Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicities and Symptoms—was held to identify the challenges that have prevented progress in reducing cancer-treatment-related symptom burden and to develop strategic steps to meet these challenges. This Perspectives article summarizes the recommendations of the panel, and includes suggestions for improving cancer care in the clinic and developing a policy and advocacy strategy to expand research on toxicity.
This Perspectives article describes how phase I trials assessing the efficacy of targeted therapies should examine not only safety and toxicity, but also the appropriate patient population. Based on the experience of their own academic institution, Rodón and colleagues explain how to build a pre-screening programme in early drug development.
