title: Processes for quality improvements in radiation oncology clinical trials.
abstract: Quality assurance in radiotherapy (RT) has been an integral aspect of cooperative group clinical trials since 1970. In early clinical trials, data acquisition was nonuniform and inconsistent and computational models for radiation dose calculation varied significantly. Process improvements developed for data acquisition, credentialing, and data management have provided the necessary infrastructure for uniform data. With continued improvement in the technology and delivery of RT, evaluation processes for target definition, RT planning, and execution undergo constant review. As we move to multimodality image-based definitions of target volumes for protocols, future clinical trials will require near real-time image analysis and feedback to field investigators. The ability of quality assurance centers to meet these real-time challenges with robust electronic interaction platforms for imaging acquisition, review, archiving, and quantitative review of volumetric RT plans will be the primary challenge for future successful clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Quality Assurance Review Center, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: FitzGerald
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urie
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ulin
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laurie
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yorty
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanusik
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kessel
authors.forename: Maryann Bishop
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jodoin
authors.forename: Gani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Osagie
authors.forename: M Giulia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cicchetti
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCarten
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000592:standards; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000592:standards; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000592:standards; D003406:Credentialing / Q000592:standards; D005544:Forecasting; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards