The goal of this protocol is to evaluate the potential of PET imaging of amino acid transport and microglial activation to improve the differentiation of tumor recurrence and radiation necrosis in patients with brain metastases after treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) who have re-growing lesions. These state-of-the-art imaging tools will be used in combination with standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MR spectroscopy (MRS) and FDG-PET (fluorodeoxyglucose).
The investigators hypothesize that by using two different PET tracers, one sensitive to tumor metabolic activity, and one sensitive to inflammatory processes, investigators can separately identify metabolically active tumor from radiation necrosis related inflammation. This can be accomplished with quantitative assessments of tracer uptake using kinetic modeling techniques, as well as by high-resolution imaging to assess the distribution of tracer uptake in the tumor region. All participants in the study will have the receive the same diagnostic tests.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
8
\[11C\]Methionine \[11\]. This natural amino acid, and its various fluorinated derivatives, has been widely used in brain tumor studies due to a) high tumor-to-normal brain contrast, and b) its sensitivity to biological functions including amino acid transport and utilization. \[11C\]PBR28 \[12\]. This ligand is one of a series of second-generation tracers that bind to TSPO (translocator protein), a protein that is upregulated in activated microglia.
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Change in Regrowing Tumor Rate from Radiation Effect
Time frame: 6 months
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