Expression of possible PET targets in paediatric brain tumours
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Expression of possible PET targets in paediatric brain tumours
IRAS ID
355445
Contact name
Tomasz Matys
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Brain tumours are the most common type of childhood cancer children and the leading cause of cancer-related childhood deaths. The current diagnosis of brain tumours is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which does not always allow us to be certain about the tumour type before surgery. Such information would be highly valuable to inform the surgeon whether they need to aim to remove the entire tumour or, for less aggressive tumours, some can be left in place. Positron-emission tomography (PET) could provide better diagnostic information based on detection of specific molecular targets but currently it is rarely used in children, mainly because of exposure to ionising radiation. As newly developed methods reduce radiation dose, PET is predicted to be used more often in children and it is important to identify potential molecular targets for detection, which could also be used to guide specific molecular treatments.
In adult brain tumours, two substances emerge as potential PET targets. One of them Is prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) which despite its name is also produced in brain tumours such as glioblastoma, and has been shown to be useful for detection and treatment. Another potentially useful target in glioblastoma is fibroblast-activation-protein (FAP). There is currently almost no information about expression of PSMA or FAP in paediatric brain tumours.
In this study, we will use leftover tissue from removed brain tumour to check which types, if any, produce PSMA and FAP. We will use tumour samples from children who consented for the tissue to be used this way, and perform immunostaining using antibodies against PSMA and FAP. We will use other antibodies to check which cell types in the tissue produce our targets. If the expression varies in different tumour types, the results would inform the design of future PET studies in patients.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0863
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion