title: Accrual Patterns for Clinical Studies Involving Quantitative Imaging: Results of an NCI Quantitative Imaging Network (QIN) Survey.
abstract: Patient accrual is essential for the success of oncology clinical trials. Recruitment for trials involving the development of quantitative imaging biomarkers may face different challenges than treatment trials. This study surveyed investigators and study personnel for evaluating accrual performance and perceived barriers to accrual and for soliciting solutions to these accrual challenges that are specific to quantitative imaging-based trials. Responses for 25 prospective studies were received from 12 sites. The median percent annual accrual attained was 94.5% (range, 3%-350%). The most commonly selected barrier to recruitment (n = 11/25, 44%) was that "patients decline participation," followed by "too few eligible patients" (n = 10/25, 40%). In a forced choice for the single greatest recruitment challenge, "too few eligible patients" was the most common response (n = 8/25, 32%). Quantitative analysis and qualitative responses suggested that interactions among institutional, physician, and patient factors contributed to accrual success and challenges. Multidisciplinary collaboration in trial design and execution is essential to accrual success, with attention paid to ensuring and communicating potential trial benefits to enrolled and future patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Brenda F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Kurland
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.affiliation: Institute for Computational and Engineering Sciences, and Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Internal Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Yankeelov
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gerstner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mountz
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Hannah M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Ella F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Kellie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bodeker
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Buatti
keywords: MRI; PET; accrual; clinical trial; patient enrollment