Study on Methionine PET/CT Imaging for Cancer Patients

Sponsor: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Sponsor score: 60
Inactive

ClinicalTrials ID:NCT00840047

Provider View

This study is testing a new imaging method using radiolabeled methionine to help evaluate tumors in children and young adults. The goal is to see if this method can effectively detect tumors, assess treatment response, and differentiate between remaining tumor and scar tissue after treatment.

Patient Parameters

Program Overview

The study aims to test the effectiveness of a new imaging technique using methionine, a natural amino acid, labeled with a small amount of radioactivity. This technique, called Methionine PET/CT, helps doctors see where methionine is in the body using a special camera. It is particularly useful for looking at tumors in the brain and other solid tumors. The study is being conducted at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the few places with the technology to produce this imaging agent. The researchers hope this method will provide important information for managing cancer in children and young adults.

Description

The study has several goals:

Primary Goal:

  • To see how well Methionine PET/CT can show tumors at the time of diagnosis. The researchers believe it will successfully show at least 70% of new tumors.

Secondary Goals:

  • To compare how much methionine is taken up by different grades of tumors. The idea is that more aggressive tumors will take up more methionine.
  • To look at how methionine spreads in parts of the body without tumors, like the lungs, heart, liver, and brain.

Exploratory Goals:

  • To compare Methionine PET/CT results with other imaging methods like MRI and FDG PET CT.
  • To see if Methionine PET/CT shows more or different information than MRI.
  • To explore if methionine uptake can help predict patient outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Patients under the care of St. Jude doctors with known or suspected cancer.
  • Patients who have had or will have imaging tests like FDG PET CT, CT, or MRI within 4 weeks of joining the study.
  • No age or gender restrictions.
  • Female patients of childbearing age must not be breastfeeding due to potential radiation risks to infants.
  • Signed informed consent from the patient, parent, or guardian.

Exclusion Criteria

  • More than 6 Methionine PET scans in the past year.
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent.

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