MISSION-ovary

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A physiological study of the metabolism of pyruvate in high grade serous ovarian cancer using hyperpolarised carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging.

  • IRAS ID

    183401

  • Contact name

    Ferdia Gallagher

  • Contact email

    fag1000@cam.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    3 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    This study involves the intravenous injection of the molecule pyruvate to obtain metabolic images using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cancer. Pyruvate is a sugar-like chemical that is formed naturally in the body as part of the breakdown of glucose. To increase the MRI signal from pyruvate, the molecule is labelled with carbon-13 and put through a process known as hyperpolarization. Hyperpolarization is achieved by cooling the labelled pyruvate in a strong magnetic field and exposing it to microwaves. Carbon-13 labelling and hyperpolarization do not alter any of the chemical properties of pyruvate and therefore do not affect its natural behaviour in the body. Carbon-13 labelling and hyperpolarization are simply a means of increasing the signal obtained with MRI. Before injection the pyruvate is warmed and passed through quality control checks to ensure temperature, concentration and pH are correct. We will also offer up to 15 ovarian, breast, renal and pancreatic cancer participants the option of having an FDG PET-CT/MRI scan on the same visit as their MRI scans. Each participant will be limited to no more than 2 FDG PET-CT/MRI scans as part of this study.

    The patients in this study will have samples of their cancerous tissue removed through biopsy and/or standard-of-care surgery. The extracted tissue samples will be analysed in the laboratory to determine which tissue properties affect the imaging signal and whether there are any changes in the imaging following treatment with standard-of-care chemotherapy.

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/EE/0378

  • Date of REC Opinion

    14 Dec 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion