title: Conclusions and future directions for the REiNS International Collaboration.
abstract: The Response Evaluation in Neurofibromatosis and Schwannomatosis (REiNS) International Collaboration was established with the goal to develop consensus recommendations for the use of endpoints in neurofibromatosis (NF) clinical trials. This supplement includes the first series of REiNS recommendations for the use of patient-reported, functional, and visual outcomes, and for the evaluation of imaging response in NF clinical trials. Recommendations for neurocognitive outcome measures, the use of whole-body MRI in NF, the evaluation of potential biomarkers of disease, and the comprehensive evaluation of functional and patient-reported outcomes in NF are in development. The REiNS recommendations are made based on current knowledge. Experience with the use of the recommended endpoints in clinical trials, development of new tools and technologies, new knowledge of the natural history of NF, and advances in the methods used to analyze endpoints will likely lead to modifications of the currently proposed guidelines, which will be shared with the NF research community through the REiNS Web site www.reinscollaboration.org. Due to the clinical complexity of NF, there is a need to seek expertise from multiple medical disciplines, regulatory agencies, and industry to develop trial endpoints and designs, which will lead to the identification and approval of effective treatments for NF tumor and nontumor manifestations. The REiNS Collaboration welcomes anyone interested in providing his or her expertise toward this effort.
authors.affiliation: From the Pediatric Oncology Branch (B.C.W., E.D., P.L.W.), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Oncology (J.O.B.), Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Division of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics (M.J.F.), The Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (C.O.H.), Plymouth, United Kingdom; The Jennifer and Daniel Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Institute (K.S.W.), Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; and Neurology Department and Cancer Center (S.R.P.). Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Brigitte C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Widemann
authors.forename: Jaishri O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Blakeley
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dombi
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Clemens O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Hanemann
authors.forename: Karin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Plotkin
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D017253:Neurofibromatoses / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome