mRCC therapy response by FPIA PET/CT

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Determining the Magnitude of Change in [18F]FPIA-detectable Short Chain Fatty Acid Uptake in Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Following Therapy

  • IRAS ID

    283224

  • Contact name

    Naveed Sarwar

  • Contact email

    naveed.sarwar1@nhs.net

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    3 years, 11 months, 29 days

  • Research summary

    Cancers have increased energy demands to allow for their rapid growth compared to healthy cells. Glucose is the main source of energy for many cells in the body, however it has been shown that some tumour cells can create energy differently using fatty acids.
    We are looking to to see if we can measure this fatty acid metabolism and therefore see how renal cell cancers respond to treatment. We will do this by using the information obtained from a PET/CT scan together with a blood test, a urine test and a tissue biopsy sample. The study will not involve any change to the patient’s normal clinical pathway.
    A PET/CT produces images by detecting a radioactive tracer injected into the body. The [18F]FPIA tracer allows us to look for groups of cells with fatty acid metabolism changes.
    We will look at 24 patients who have metastatic renal cell cancer.
    Each patient will have three scan visits; before cancer treatment starts and, 4-6 and approximately 12 weeks after. At each visit they will also have a blood and urine test for carnitine levels (a natural substance in the body which plays a vital role in fatty acid metabolism/energy production).

    By measuring how much [18F]FPIA can be seen on the scan and differences in uptake between the 3 scans, we hope to be able to identify if the cancer is responding to treatment or not. These will be compared to routine care scans and a relationship between the levels of urine / blood carnitine explored.
    Further tests on tissue biopsies will look for changes in cancer cell DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) which may provide important information about best treatments/how the treatments work.

  • REC name

    West of Scotland REC 5

  • REC reference

    20/WS/0150

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Dec 2020

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion