FDG PET/CT for Lung Cancer

Overseen By Daniel Pryma, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Disqualifiers: Mental disability, Children, Prisoners, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 6 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different methods of taking and processing PET/CT images can improve the accuracy of detecting cancer in the lymph nodes of individuals with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The treatment uses a PET/CT scan with a special tracer, Fludeoxyglucose-18 (FDG), to highlight cancer activity. It suits adults with a confirmed NSCLC diagnosis who are already scheduled for a PET/CT scan as part of their regular care. Participants should be comfortable with extra imaging time and able to provide informed consent. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to advancing imaging techniques that could enhance cancer detection and treatment.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that FDG PET/CT is safe for lung cancer imaging?

Research shows that FDG PET/CT is commonly used in cancer care, including lung cancer. This method involves a radioactive drug called Fludeoxyglucose F18, which emits some radiation. However, studies indicate it is generally safe and widely used to stage and monitor cancer. The absence of specific information about side effects or negative reactions suggests it is well-tolerated. This method is not new and has already been approved for various cancer-related uses, supporting its safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard lung cancer treatments that focus on removing or shrinking tumors through surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, FDG PET/CT is a diagnostic imaging technique that helps in identifying cancer activity. Researchers are excited about this method because it uses a special sugar compound, FDG, which cancer cells absorb more than normal cells, making it easier to spot active cancer with precision. This imaging technique can offer a more accurate assessment of how widespread the cancer is and how well the treatment is working, potentially leading to more personalized and effective treatment plans.

What evidence suggests that FDG PET/CT is effective for mediastinal nodal staging in NSCLC?

Research has shown that FDG PET/CT, which participants in this trial will undergo, serves as a useful tool for understanding and managing lung cancer. Studies have found that it can help predict cancer progression and assess the risk of recurrence. It is particularly helpful in observing cancer behavior over time. Some research also suggests that PET/CT, when used alongside other treatments, can improve accuracy. Overall, FDG PET/CT is considered a promising method for helping doctors better understand and treat lung cancer. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Daniel Pryma, MD

Principal Investigator

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who need an FDG PET/CT scan as part of their usual care. They must understand the study's research nature and agree to it in writing. It's not for those who can't handle extra imaging time, economically disadvantaged individuals, children, neonates, prisoners, or mentally disabled persons.

Inclusion Criteria

I have NSCLC and am scheduled for a PET/CT scan.

Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and provide written informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines prior to study-specific procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

I am not a child, fetus, neonate, or prisoner.

Inability to tolerate additional imaging time in the opinion of the investigator or treating physician

Individuals who are mentally disabled

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

PET Imaging

Participants undergo FDG PET/CT imaging to assess mediastinal nodal staging in NSCLC

1 week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after imaging

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• FDG PET/CT

Trial Overview The study is looking at how different ways of taking pictures and processing them affect the accuracy of FDG PET/CT scans used to figure out if NSCLC has spread to lymph nodes in the chest area. This is a forward-looking study that tracks participants over time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: PET imaging Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

PET imaging

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Lead Sponsor

Trials

360

Recruited

108,000+

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

425

Recruited

464,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

FDG-PET/CT imaging has significantly improved the diagnosis and management of lung cancer, aiding in the development of therapeutic biomarkers and predicting patient responses and long-term survival.

The review highlights ongoing advancements in novel tracers and optimized procedures for PET/CT, suggesting a promising future for enhancing the effectiveness of lung cancer imaging and treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Progress and future prospective of FDG-PET/CT imaging combined with optimized procedures in lung cancer: toward precision medicine. Guo, H., Xu, K., Duan, G., et al.[2022]

Positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiopharmaceutical 18F-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) is a valuable noninvasive tool that enhances the evaluation of lung cancer beyond traditional imaging methods like CT and MRI.

FDG-PET is effective for various applications in lung cancer management, including detecting tumors, staging the disease, monitoring for recurrence, and assessing patient prognosis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positron emission tomography imaging in lung cancer. Patz, EF., Erasmus, JJ.[2019]

(18)F-FDG PET/CT is a valuable imaging tool that combines metabolic and anatomical information, enhancing the management of lung cancer patients throughout various stages of care.

The review highlights its effectiveness in critical areas such as diagnosis, staging, therapy planning, and assessing treatment responses, making it essential for improving patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Present and future roles of FDG-PET/CT imaging in the management of lung cancer. Kitajima, K., Doi, H., Kanda, T., et al.[2018]

FDG-PET is an effective noninvasive imaging technique for detecting and staging non-small-cell lung cancer, helping to reduce the need for invasive histopathological procedures.

While FDG-PET is sensitive, it is not tumor-specific and can lead to false positives due to accumulation in nonmalignant conditions; combining it with CT imaging improves staging accuracy for lung cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

State-of-the-Art FDG-PET imaging of lung cancer. Gilman, MD., Aquino, SL.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3864168/

[18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography ... [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) combined with CT is helpful in the staging, imaging, and prognosis of patients with lung cancer ...

2. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-05165-z

Correlation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission ... This study found that PET/CT-related parameters, particularly SUVmax, SUVmean, and SUVtmr, were not effective in accurately distinguishing between the lung ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001299825000145

Impact of [18F]FDG PET/CT Radiomics and Artificial ... Radiomic analysis on [18F]FDG PET/CT seems to be a promising prognostic tool for predicting survival and recurrence risk in lung cancer. For progression-free ...

4. jnm.snmjournals.org jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/supplement_2/2778

Cost-effectiveness of F-18 FDG PET/CT in lung and colorectal ... A systematic review was conducted to determine current cost-effectiveness evidence of F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging alone or as an add-on to CT imaging.

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1034416/full

Predictive value of 18 F-FDG PET/CT for evaluating ... Conclusion: 18FDG-PET/CT has the potential to predict the outcomes of HFRT combined with PD-1 blockade in NSCLC. Therefore, we recommend using a ...

6. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557653/

Fludeoxyglucose (18F) - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH Images from PET and CT can be viewed side by side or fused using the software. Fludeoxyglucose F18 is a radioactive drug and emits radiation.

7. jto.org jto.org/article/S1556-0864(25)00693-8/fulltext

Surveillance With Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose ... In conclusion, we found no benefit in using [18F]FDG PET/CT over ceCT for post-treatment surveillance in patients with NSCLC. Despite detecting more suspected ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3101722/

18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging In Oncology - PMC - PubMed Central 18 F-FDG PET/CT is more sensitive and specific in certain cancers and has been applied primarily as a staging and restaging tool that can guide patient care.

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001299825000108

The Role of [18F]FDG PET/CT in Monitoring of Therapy ... This review underscores the pivotal role of [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT in evaluating therapy response in lung cancer, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).