Adding PSMA PET/CT imaging to liver cancer care for veterans
Official title: Addition of F18-Piflufolastat PET/CT to Cross-Sectional Imaging for the Staging and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funded at Miami VA Health Care System · NIH-11548307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a new PET imaging approach to help diagnose and guide treatment for liver cancer in veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Miami VA Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002654-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11548307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with hepatocellular carcinoma or at risk due to liver disease who are receiving care at VA facilities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit include those without suspected liver cancer or those not undergoing PSMA PET imaging as part of standard care.
What this research studies
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a deadly liver cancer with limited survival, especially in patients with liver disease. This grant proposes testing PSMA-targeted PET scans alongside current imaging to improve detection and prognosis for veterans with liver cancer. The study is centered at the Miami VA Health Care System and aims to identify how PSMA PET can influence staging and management decisions, potentially leading to more personalized care. The research will involve imaging veterans with liver cancer to see if PSMA PET provides clearer information about tumor extent and treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more accurate staging and better-directed therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests PSMA PET can be highly sensitive for liver cancer detection, but its routine clinical benefit in HCC is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Miami VA Health Care System
Miami, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: John, Binu — Miami VA Health Care System
- Study coordinator: John, Binu
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.