Role Of FLT PET In Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma - Prediction Of Response To Chemotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$93,639.00
Summary
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung. Chemotherapy is often used to treat patients in order to reduce their symptoms and to improve quality and length of life. Not all patients however benefit from chemotherapy, and most patients will experience some side-effects. Currently CT scans are used to assess response to chemotherapy, however the way that mesothelioma grows makes measuring response difficult. CT scans also are not very sensitive in detecting response early - often 3 or 4 c ....Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung. Chemotherapy is often used to treat patients in order to reduce their symptoms and to improve quality and length of life. Not all patients however benefit from chemotherapy, and most patients will experience some side-effects. Currently CT scans are used to assess response to chemotherapy, however the way that mesothelioma grows makes measuring response difficult. CT scans also are not very sensitive in detecting response early - often 3 or 4 cycles of treatment (3-4 months) are required before benefit is seen. A test that could predict which patients were benefiting after only 1 cycle (3-4 weeks) of chemotherapy would be a great advantage, and may spare some patients unnecessary and potentially toxic treatment. Fluorothymidine (FLT) is a radioactive tracer that, after injection into a vein, is taken up by dividing cells. Tumour cells usually divide more actively than surrounding normal cells, and therefore when a positron emission tomography (PET) scan is performed it will demonstrate the tumour as a 'hot spot'. The amount of FLT uptake into the tumour depends on how much DNA synthesis (active cell division) is occurring. After chemotherapy, if the tumour responds it would be expected that the amount of FLT in the tumour will reduce. This can be assessed by repeating the FLT PET scan after the first cycle of chemotherapy. This study aims to assess the ability of the change in FLT uptake in mesothelioma after 1 cycle of chemotherapy to predict response, as measured on CT scans, and patient outcomes such as quality of life and survival. It is hoped that if successful this type of scan may improve patient care by selecting those who are likely to benefit from chemotherapy early and avoid unnecessary toxicity to patients who will not benefit from the treatment.Read moreRead less
Improving The Assessment Of Brain Tumour Treatment Outcome Using 18F-FDOPA PET-MRI Fusion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$660,666.00
Summary
The mortality rate within the first year of diagnosis for high-grade brain tumours is approximately 80%. A major factor contributing to poor outcome measures is the limitation of current neuroimaging techniques. In a novel approach we propose to combine the information available from MRI and PET images to better define the extent of the tumour and provide markers of early treatment response. This improved diagnostic information should improve survival rates.
Molecular Imaging To Advance Treatment Of Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,419.00
Summary
Molecular imaging using a scan technique called positron emission tomography, enables detection and measurement of specific pathological features of disease such as the amyloid plaques of Alzheimer’s disease. This project will develop this technology for other aspects of brain disorders including dementias, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury and schizophrenia and use it to assist development of therapies and improve clinical diagnosis nation wide.
Molecular Imaging Of Cancers With Copper And Zirconium Radiopharmaceuticals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,475.00
Summary
This research aims to develop new imaging agents to assist in the diagnosis of breast cancer. This research will advance knowledge in the areas of chemistry, biotechnology and diagnostic imaging.
The Use Of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Novel Immune And Microbiological Biomarkers To Improve The Diagnosis And Prognostication Of Giant Cell Arteritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory condition of blood vessels. Diagnosing the condition and predicting which patients will develop complications is challenging. Undiagnosed, a significant proportion of patients experience sudden onset, permanent blindness. Our study aims to improve the diagnosis and risk assessment of patients with suspected GCA by following a group of 65 patients for two years with serial scans, blood tests and clinical reviews.
A Motion Correction Technique For Accurate PET/CT Brain Imaging In Paediatric And Dementia Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,450.00
Summary
PET-CT imaging is a vital tool in the diagnosis and management of patients with brain disorders including dementia, epilepsy and cancer. However images are often distorted by patient motion, particularly in demented and paediatric patients. The CI has recently developed a motion tracking and correction method to derive images nearly free of motion effects. This aim of this project is to evaluate its impact on image quality in a variety of patients referred for PET- CT brain investigations.