The role of response evaluation criteria in solid tumour in anticancer treatment evaluation: results of a survey in the oncology community.
OBJECTIVE
With the increasing use of novel targeted agents and the development of high imaging techniques, response evaluation criteria in solid tumour (RECIST) 1.1 developed primarily for cytotoxic agents and anatomic imaging, has demonstrated limitations. A survey was conducted of RECIST users to identify concerns and their suggestions for future RECIST criteria.


METHODS
140 key partners of the RECIST collaboration were asked to complete a questionnaire. The 49 questions concerned (a) satisfaction and concerns with RECIST 1.1; (b) use of modified RECIST criteria and (c) suggestions for the next RECIST Version.


RESULTS
Sixty-five replies were received. 52.3% responders were satisfied with RECIST 1.1, while 10.8% indicated dissatisfaction. Areas of potential weakness included: (a) lack of incorporation of potential early indicators of response such as functional imaging, (b) lack of validation in rarer tumour types and (c) lack of validation for novel (targeted) agents. Suggestions were multiple, with highest numbers on two points: developing sub-criteria for certain disease types and including advanced imaging techniques for the evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Constructive suggestions were received for optimising the next version. Ongoing data collection will make it possible to investigate the possible utilisation of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging in tumour assessment, to verify whether RECIST is/can still be applicable in novel targeted therapy and to consider the need for criteria for specific disease types.
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: yan.liu@eortc.be.
Yan
Y
Liu
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Brussels, Belgium.
Saskia
S
Litière
Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Elisabeth Ge
EG
de Vries
Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Daniel
D
Sargent
National Cancer Institute, Cancer Imaging Program, USA.
Lalitha
L
Shankar
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Brussels, Belgium.
Jan
J
Bogaerts
National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical trials group, Queens University, Kingston, Canada.
Lesley
L
Seymour
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Advanced MR techniques; FDG-PET; RECIST; Targeted agents; Tumour assessment criteria