Using Hyperpolarized 13-C Pyruvate MRI to Detect and Monitor Various Cancers

What this Trial Is About

This trial investigates the use of hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate MRI imaging to study various cancers by visualizing metabolic activity related to the Warburg effect, a process where cancer cells use increased glucose and convert pyruvate to lactate via anaerobic respiration. This imaging approach aims to better detect and characterize tumors by examining downstream metabolic changes beyond what current 18F-FDG imaging evaluates. The study is in early phases and seeks to clarify the utility of this method across multiple tumor types. Participants will receive an intravenous injection of 250 mM hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate after their standard imaging sequences. Following the injection, they will undergo specialized hyperpolarized MR imaging to observe the conversion of pyruvate to lactate within tumors. This experimental imaging procedure is designed to capture three-dimensional visualizations of the tumors and their metabolic products. During the study, participants will have standard imaging and the hyperpolarized 13C MRI scan. Researchers will monitor the conversion of pyruvate to lactate over 18 to 36 months as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include measures of signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios over 12 to 42 months. The study involves ongoing assessments of tumor metabolism and imaging quality, with participation lasting up to several years to evaluate these metabolic processes in detail.

HP Pyruvate MRI in Cancers