Hyperpolarized 13C MRI to predict treatment response in pancreatic cancer
Translating Hyperpolarized 13C MRI as a Novel Tool to Predict Treatment Response in Pancreatic Cancer
A special carbon-13 MRI scan will be used to see early whether chemotherapy or pre-surgery treatment is working for people with pancreatic cancer.
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 ID | NIH-11251628 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a specialized MRI that uses hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate to watch how your tumor processes energy. Scans would be done before and after starting systemic or neoadjuvant therapy to spot early metabolic changes. Researchers will compare these results with standard imaging and the blood marker CA19-9 to find earlier signs of response. The information could help doctors stop ineffective treatments sooner and decide whether surgery is likely to help.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are starting systemic therapy or undergoing neoadjuvant treatment and are being considered for surgery are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with other cancers, those who cannot have MRI (for example due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia), or those not receiving systemic or neoadjuvant therapy would be unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could give earlier and more accurate information about whether a patient's therapy is working, helping avoid ineffective treatments and better guide surgical decisions.
How similar studies have performed: Early clinical work with hyperpolarized 13C MRI in several cancers has shown promising signals for metabolic response, but applying it specifically to guide pancreatic cancer treatment remains novel and is being validated.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gordon, Jeremy William — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Gordon, Jeremy William
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 below.