Advanced MRI to Track Prostate Cancer Treatment
Official title: Hyperpolarized C-13 MRI Techniques to Monitor Radiation Therapy Response in Prostate Cancer Patients
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11124018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores a new type of MRI scan to see how prostate cancer responds to radiation therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $665,957 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA238379-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124018 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be prostate cancer patients undergoing or who have recently completed stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).
✕Less likely to help
Patients without prostate cancer or those not receiving radiation therapy for their prostate cancer would not directly benefit from this specific imaging approach.
What this research studies
This project aims to use advanced MRI scans with a special tracer (hyperpolarized C-13 pyruvate) to watch how prostate cancer changes after radiation therapy. This new imaging method helps doctors understand if the treatment is working by looking at the cancer's metabolism, which is how its cells use energy. Current imaging often struggles to clearly show if prostate cancer is still active after radiation, sometimes leading to unnecessary side effects or missed opportunities to adjust treatment. This new MRI could provide a clearer picture, helping to guide better care for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new MRI could help doctors better understand if radiation therapy is working for prostate cancer, potentially leading to more effective and personalized treatment plans.
How similar studies have gone: Initial human studies at UCSF and other sites worldwide have shown promising, repeatable findings using this emerging imaging approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vigneron, Daniel B — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Vigneron, Daniel B
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Embedding symptom support in radiation therapy for prostate cancer
A multi-site study tests whether delivering mindfulness-based symptom support right inside radiation therapy is feasible and acceptable for men with prostate cancer.
-
New MRI techniques to monitor prostate cancer treatment response
This study is looking at a new type of MRI that uses a special substance to help doctors see how prostate cancer patients are doing after radiation therapy, aiming to give a clearer picture of how the cancer is responding and to spot any remaining or worsening disease.
-
How certain DNA repair genes affect radiation therapy in prostate cancer
This study is looking at how a gene called FAM35A affects how prostate cancer cells react to radiation therapy, especially in cases where the cancer doesn't respond to regular treatments, with the goal of finding better ways to help patients with advanced prostate cancer.
-
Cardiovascular risk planning and reduction for men with prostate cancer
A program to better predict and reduce heart disease risk in men treated for prostate cancer, especially older patients.
-
Effects of ADT on motivation and emotion in prostate cancer patients
This project looks at how androgen deprivation therapy may affect motivation and mood over time in men with prostate cancer.
-
Causal Protein Markers to Understand and Predict Prostate Cancer Risk in Africans and Europeans
A cancer research project looking at proteins linked to prostate cancer to better understand why it happens and how risk differs between African and European populations.
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.