This trial studies the accumulation of a radiolabeled tryptophan called carbon C 11 alpha-methyltryptophan (AMT) in the brain using positron emission tomography (PET) scanning in patients with brain tumors. Tryptophan, in its natural state, is an amino acid (one of the building blocks of proteins) that is normally present in the brain, and is used by the brain cells to create various other compounds. This process is altered in the presence of a brain tumor. By using a form of tryptophan marked with a small amount of radiation, the altered process can be tracked during the course of the PET scan. This research will help determine if AMT PET is a useful method to recognize and differentiate between various types of brain tumors and to find new approaches to treat brain tumors in the future by altering abnormal tryptophan metabolism.
Additional locations may be listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT02367469.
See trial information on ClinicalTrials.gov for a list of participating sites.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To determine if AMT PET can differentiate brain tumors from non-tumorous brain lesions.
II. To differentiate among various types of cerebral gliomas and glio-neuronal tumors based on measures of increased transport and metabolic trapping on AMT PET scans.
III. To determine the relationship between kinetic parameters derived from AMT PET imaging and measures derived from histological measurements of resected tumor tissue.
OUTLINE:
Patients receive AMT intravenously (IV) over 2 minutes and then undergo PET scanning of the heart over 20 minutes and the brain over 45 minutes. Patients also undergo blood sample collection at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes after AMT injection.
Trial PhaseNo phase specified
Trial Typediagnostic
Lead OrganizationWayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute
Principal InvestigatorCsaba Juhasz
