NCT05359939 A Head-to-head Comparison of MRI, CT, 18F-FDGal and 18F-choline in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
| NCT ID | NCT05359939 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Aarhus |
| Condition | Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 50 participants |
| Start Date | 2023-01-16 |
| Primary Completion | 2025-12 |
Eligibility & Interventions
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 50 participants in total. It began in 2023-01-16 with a primary completion date of 2025-12.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumour and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In Denmark, the incidence of HCC is 5.2 per 100.000 population per year with a dismal prognosis as the median survival time is just 7.7 month. Extrahepatic spread of HCC is common at advanced stages. The majority of patients who develop HCC has cirrhosis of the liver and in these patients, diagnosis can be made non-invasively with characteristic contrast-enhancement pattern on CT and/or MRI. Although contrast-enhanced CT and MRI are considered equal in current guidelines, MRI may have a better sensitivity especially for small lesions. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a molecular imaging technique based on the injection of a very small dose of a tracer substance labelled with a positron emitting radioisotope. PET with the glucose tracer 18F-FDG is an important tool in the staging of many cancer forms, but it is not included in the international guidelines for management of HCC because of suboptimal sensitivity of only up to 50-60 % for HCC situated in the liver. Other PET tracers such as 11C- or 18F-choline have also been investigated in patients with HCC with detection rates of 84% in meta-analysis. In Aarhus, the liver specific tracer 18F-FDGal has been developed. It is a fluorine-18 labelled galactose analogue which in the human body is trapped in hepatocytes by phosphorylation by galactokinase. The first study of the diagnostic use of 18F-FDGal PET/CT in patients suspected for having HCC was published in 2011. The study showed good clinical potential for 18F-FDGal as a tracer for detection of intra- as well as extrahepatic HCC. Both 18F-choline and 18F-FDGal show potential to improve the detection of extrahepatic disease. Some centres use 18F-choline PET/CT in evaluation of patients with HCC, but the reported results for choline PET/CT do not appear superior to 18F-FDGal PET/CT. Furthermore, 18F-FDGal PET/CT also enables evaluation of regional metabolic liver. A head-to-head study of the two tracers is very much warranted. The aim of the present project is to establish the clinical impact and utilization of 18F-FDGal PET in concert with state-of-the art radiological methods (CT and MRI) in patients with HCC. Hypotheses: i) 18F-FDGal PET performs better than 18F-choline for diagnosis and staging of patients with HCC. ii) MRI is expected to perform better than contrast-enhanced CT.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * patients with hepatocellular carcinoma * age above 18 years Exclusion Criteria: * the patient does not want to take part in the study * the responsible investigator determines that the patient is not qualified for a PET scan * a history of moderate or intense hypersensitivity to a gadolinium-based contrast agent * renal insufficiency (estimated glomerular filtration rate \[eGFR\] \<30 ml/min/1.73 m2 body surface area * contraindications for MRI including claustrophobia * pregnant or nursing patients.
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT05359939 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT05359939 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT05359939 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at mkk@clin.au.dk for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT05359939 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Aarhus, Denmark.
Who is sponsoring the NCT05359939 clinical trial?
NCT05359939 is sponsored by University of Aarhus. The trial plans to enroll 50 participants.
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