AMT PET Scan in Studying Tryptophan Metabolism in Brain Tumors

Status: complete

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.

Inclusion Criteria

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis of an intracranial lesion suspicious for a brain tumor, or a suspected residual or recurrent tumor (based on clinical MRI and/or fludeoxyglucose F-18 [FDG] PET, or clinical symptoms) following previous tumor resection

Exclusion Criteria

Severe increased intracranial pressure, status epilepticus, or other complications of the tumor, requiring emergency or urgent intervention
Resective surgery within 2 months prior to the PET scan (acute/subacute post-surgical inflammatory changes may cause false positive increases on AMT PET)
Positive pregnancy test (because of radiation involved in PET scanning)

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.

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AMT PET Scan in Studying Tryptophan Metabolism in Brain Tumors

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