Improving imaging for alpha-particle cancer treatments
Ultra-Low Count Quantitative SPECT for Alpha-Particle Therapies
This project uses new ultra-low-count SPECT imaging to see how alpha-particle cancer drugs are taken up in tumors and organs for people with prostate cancer that has spread to bone and stopped responding to hormones.
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 ID | NIH-11159703 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is developing a new computational and imaging approach called ultra-low-count quantitative SPECT to measure tiny amounts of alpha-emitting drugs inside the body. They will validate the methods in the lab and then use them in a first-in-human trial for patients with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The goal is to accurately measure how much radioactivity tumors and normal organs receive, even when detected counts are extremely low. This involves specialized scanning, image reconstruction techniques, and comparison to clinical samples and outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who are being considered for or enrolled in alpha-particle radiopharmaceutical therapy.
Not a fit: Patients without metastatic prostate cancer or those not receiving alpha-particle radiopharmaceuticals are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable personalized dosing of alpha-particle therapies to improve tumor control and reduce side effects to vital organs.
How similar studies have performed: While conventional SPECT methods work at higher count levels, ultra-low-count quantitative SPECT for alpha therapies is largely new and the project includes a first-in-human test.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jha, Abhinav K — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Jha, Abhinav K
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.