A New Scan to Guide Liver Cancer Treatment

Novel PET Imaging to Guide Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

NIH-funded research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11142654

This project aims to find a faster way to see if liver cancer treatments are working by using a special type of scan.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11142654 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a serious condition often treated with targeted radiation called Yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization. Currently, it takes months to know if this treatment is successful using standard scans like MRI or CT, causing uncertainty for patients and doctors. This research explores a new kind of scan, called 18F-FSPG PET, which might show treatment response much sooner. This special scan works by detecting a specific activity in cancer cells that is linked to how they respond to radiation. By getting earlier information, doctors can make quicker decisions about the next steps in your care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are undergoing or considering Yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization treatment might be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with other types of cancer or those not receiving Yttrium-90 radioembolization for liver cancer may not directly benefit from this specific imaging approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this new scanning method could help doctors quickly understand if a liver cancer treatment is working, allowing for faster adjustments to care plans.

How similar studies have performed: Researchers have previously used 18F-FSPG PET in liver cancer for detection and response evaluation, suggesting a foundation for this innovative approach.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.