In this pilot study, healthy volunteers and patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer will undergo \[18F\]F-AraG dynamic imaging on the uEXPLORER total body Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography scanner to obtain preliminary data regarding pharmacokinetics and early biodistribution images.
\[18F\]F-AraG, a fluorine-18 labeled analog of an FDA approved drug (Nelarabine) is a new imaging tracer targeted at imaging activated T-cells. Given that immunotherapeutic strategies, in particular immune checkpoint antibodies, focus on the generation of T-cell-based antitumor immunity, uptake of \[18F\]F-AraG within the tumor is hypothesized to correlate with T-cell mediated immune response seen in the biopsy samples of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade. Correlation of pre- and post-treatment intratumoral immune infiltration by means of PET imaging will guide the development of future clinical trials investigating the role of \[18F\]F-AraG in the monitoring of anti-tumor immune responses. Therefore, proper quantification of \[18F\]F-AraG uptake in tumor lesions, and understanding its relation with physiologic uptake in background tissues is important. Note: checkpoint therapy in this study is standard-of-care and is not under investigation. Available PET/CT scanners can obtain dynamic images only on a portion of the body as large as their axial field of view, generally anywhere between 15-30 cm. The 194 cm long uEXPLORER total-body PET scanner is the world's first device to offer the ability to tomographically image all parts of the body simultaneously. Thus, the uEXPLORER PET/CT (now commercially available and with FDA 510(k) clearance) is the only scanner in the world capable of acquiring total-body dynamic images. In this pilot study, 2-4 healthy volunteers will undergo \[18F\]F-AraG dynamic imaging on the uEXPLORER total body PET/CT scanner to obtain preliminary data regarding pharmacokinetics and early biodistribution images. In addition, 2-4 patients with NSCLC and planned for standard-of-care PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy will undergo \[18F\]F-AraG dynamic imaging similarly on the uEXPLORER total body PET/CT scanner to obtain data regarding pharmacokinetics of the tracer in tumor lesions in the context of normal tissue uptake. An optional second similar scan will be performed 7-14 days after the first dose of immunotherapy to explore and document any treatment related changes in \[18F\]F-AraG uptake and kinetics. The study and data collected will be important to recommend an ideal time to acquire a whole body static scan using conventional and widely available PET/CT scanners for adequate tumor to background contrast and quantification, which in turn, will be essential for further clinical development of \[18F\]F-AraG to aid the monitoring of anti tumor immune responses.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
5
Total body PET imaging using \[18F\]F-AraG
UC Davis EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center
Sacramento, California, United States
Data on Whole-body Pharmacokinetics of [18F]F-AraG Physiologic Uptake in Various Healthy Tissues
Data on \[18F\]F-AraG uptake in several tissue types will be collected from healthy subjects. This data will be presented in the form of time-activity curves (TAC) generated for each tissue type. Quantitative assessment of \[18F\]F-AraG biodistribution in healthy tissues will be reported as a function of time as mean Standard Uptake Value (SUV)
Time frame: Baseline
Data on Whole-body Pharmacokinetics of [18F]F-AraG Pathologic Uptake in Tumor Lesions Relative to Uptake in Background Tissues in NSCLC Subjects
Data on \[18F\]F AraG uptake in tumor lesions and background activity in the same tissues as in Outcome 1 will be collected. This data will be similarly presented in the form of time-activity curves (TAC) generated for each tissue type, as well as for tumor lesions against their background tissues.
Time frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after first dose of PD-1/PD-L1
Tumor-to-Background SUVR Over Time to Determine Earliest Adequate Uptake
We will calculate the tumor-to-background Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) at multiple time points. The primary aim is to identify the earliest time at which the SUVR indicates adequate tumor uptake relative to non-malignant tissue. This will guide recommendations for the ideal imaging start time for static whole-body scans.
Time frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after first dose of PD-1/PD-L1
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