FFNP-PET scans to predict hormone therapy response in advanced ER-positive breast cancer
Official title: FFNP-PET as a predictive biomarker of response to endocrine therapy approaches in advanced breast cancer
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11172663 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a special PET scan called FFNP to find which people with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer are likely to benefit from hormone (endocrine) therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,254,028 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA273194-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172663 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer who are considering or about to start endocrine-based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People with ER-negative disease, those not eligible for PET imaging, or those who cannot undergo the estradiol challenge are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would get a PET scan using an imaging tracer called FFNP to measure progesterone receptor activity in tumors. Scans are done before and after a short (one-day) estradiol challenge to see how the tumor’s receptor activity changes. The change in FFNP signal (ΔFFNP-PET) will be compared with how well patients respond to different endocrine therapy approaches. The goal is to use those imaging results to guide treatment choices so some people might avoid or delay chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors choose the hormone therapy most likely to work for you and avoid unnecessary chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Early clinical data from a phase II single-arm trial showed strong prediction of endocrine therapy response using FFNP-PET before and after an estradiol challenge, but larger validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shoghi, Kooresh Isaac — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Shoghi, Kooresh Isaac
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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.