# Systematic study of variations in imaging techniques and response criteria for well differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

> **NIH NIH R03** · RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR · 2021 · $92,150

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT:
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare and slow growing malignancies with an increasing incidence and
prevalence1. The relevance of current standard imaging modalities and response assessment criteria (RECIST
1.1) is questioned for evaluation of NETs due to inter-observer variability and the inability to evaluate early
response to therapy (changes in vascularity, textures, density)4. Ours is a unique pilot project where we utilize
and repurpose an untapped resource i.e., image bank created from the cooperative group study E2211 that
randomized patients with pancreatic NETs to capecitabine +/- temozolamide therapy. We will review all of the
images available in the image bank and perform secondary analysis to quantify variability in both: imaging
technique/radiation dose (discrepancies in image quality) and tumor measurements using RECIST 1.1 (response
criteria). These findings are vital to disease evaluation in NETs. Alongside, we also hypothesize that there are
alternate criteria (RECIST lite, Choi, changes in texture, intensity and other quantitative imaging markers) that
could evaluate response to therapy on CT imaging better and earlier than the current standard (RECIST 1.1) as
previously shown in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (Choi criteria)5,6. The feasibility of image banking and its
utility in answering clinically relevant questions is also being indirectly evaluated through our study. Assessing
the quality of imaging studies and quantifying the inter-reader variability will highlight the importance of
standardizing disease assessment tools and justify the need for exploring alternate tools. Identification of
alternate radiological criteria and quantitative imaging biomarkers that are early predictors of response will help
us identify patients who are more likely to respond to any specific therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10076796
- **Project number:** 5R03CA219722-02
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jordan Mossler Anaokar
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $92,150
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10076796

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10076796, Systematic study of variations in imaging techniques and response criteria for well differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (5R03CA219722-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10076796. Licensed CC0.

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