Metabolic imaging to track targeted cancer drugs
Metabolic Imaging of Targeted Therapies in Cancer
New imaging methods are being developed to show how targeted cancer drugs change tumor metabolism so patients with cancer can get earlier information about whether treatment is working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11256783 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use patient-derived tumor cells and mouse models to find which metabolic pathways change when targeted kinase drugs (like mTOR inhibitors) are given. They will combine gene, protein, and metabolite analyses to pinpoint metabolic biomarkers linked to drug response. Those biomarkers will then be tested with non-invasive imaging methods such as MR spectroscopy, chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST), and standard FDG PET to see which images reflect early treatment effects. The work is presented as proof-of-principle focused on mTOR pathway inhibition.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers treated or considered for treatment with targeted kinase inhibitors (for example tumors driven by the mTOR pathway) would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not treated with kinase inhibitors or who cannot undergo MR or PET imaging (for example due to incompatible implants or certain medical conditions) may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give patients and doctors an earlier, non-invasive way to know whether targeted cancer therapy is working.
How similar studies have performed: Standard FDG PET is widely used to monitor cancer metabolism, while MR spectroscopy and CEST imaging are more experimental approaches for tracking responses to targeted kinase inhibitors.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nath, Kavindra — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Nath, Kavindra
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.