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HP Pyruvate MRI in Cancers

Hyperpolarized 13-C Pyruvate MRI Surveillance of Multiple Cancers

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05697406
Acronym
HC-MRI
Enrollment
25
Registered
2023-01-25
Start date
2024-06-24
Completion date
2028-12-01
Last updated
2025-09-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Image, Warburg Effect, Tumors

Brief summary

Many human diseases are characterized by their ability to alter existing metabolic pathways and interrupt cellular processes. Cancer exploits the Warburg effect and utilizes greater glucose than normal cells and within this process uses anaerobic respiration, leading to increased conversion of pyruvate to lactate. This can be exploited by hyperpolarized imaging. Hyperpolarized 13C MRI imaging is an approach that utilizes a stable isotope of Carbon (13C) linked to pyruvate. MRI spectroscopy is used in conjunction with hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate in order to temporally detect pyruvate and its conversion to lactate in-vivo, in order to visualize downstream metabolic (glycolytic) activity secondary to the Warburg effect, which should be useful in detecting and characterizing tumors of various types. Hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate MR imaging has not been tested in most cancers. In this preliminary survey, we will test the hypothesis that hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate MR imaging can be used to image various cancers.

Detailed description

Most cancers exhibit the Warburg effect, which involves synthesis of lactate via glycolytic pathways. The present method of using 18F-FDG to image metabolic events only evaluates early glycolysis and does not investigate late glycolytic effects which can be examined by 13C pyruvate. The ability to detect cancer using 13C pyruvate has been shown using ovarian cancer models and in the prostate in humans, however its utility in other tumors needs clarification. Because cancers of various types affect metabolic pathways, it is necessary to improve imaging techniques to better investigate downstream metabolism. Many studies have shown that there are higher lactate levels in cancer tissue and higher levels of glycolysis. 13C pyruvate imaging takes advantage of these pathways by imaging the tumors while undergoing pyruvate to lactate conversion . From this modality, a three dimensional visualization of the tumor and metabolic products created by the pyruvate can be investigated.

Interventions

Imaging tumors pre and post administration of hyperpolarized 13-C pyruvate injection.

Sponsors

University of Maryland, Baltimore
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants will be evaluated pre and post hyperpolarized 13-C pyruvate injection for change in pyruvate signal compared to background.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 88 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Clinical tumor diagnosis Patients with pre-existing MR imaging appointments Must be able to undergo MR

Exclusion criteria

No tumor diagnosis

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pyruvate to Lactate Conversion18-36 monthsImaging Quality, KpL

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
SNR12-42 monthsSignal to Noise Ratio, dB
CNR12-42 monthsContrast to Noise

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026