PET imaging of tumor-supporting fibroblast cells in pancreatic cancer using 68Ga‑FAPI‑46
Official title: Quantitative In Vivo 68Ga-Fibroblast-Activation-Protein-Inhibitors (FAPI)-46 PET Imaging of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA)
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11190830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a PET imaging tracer called 68Ga‑FAPI‑46 to reveal fibroblast cells that support pancreatic tumors in people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $955,352 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA272628-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (newly diagnosed, recurrent, or metastatic) who are able to undergo PET imaging.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic cancer, those whose tumors do not express FAP, or individuals unable to have PET scans (for example, pregnant people) are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you participate, you would get a PET scan using a tracer called 68Ga‑FAPI‑46 that binds to fibroblast activation protein (FAP) on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The tracer has low background uptake, clears quickly from blood, and stays in tumor stroma so doctors can map where CAFs live inside and around your tumor. Researchers will compare images across patients and over time to learn how CAF patterns relate to tumor growth, spread, and treatment resistance. This noninvasive imaging could help select patients for future therapies that target the tumor microenvironment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this imaging approach could help personalize treatment by revealing tumor stromal patterns and identifying patients who might benefit from FAP-targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Early clinical work with 68Ga‑FAPI tracers in several cancers has shown strong tumor imaging signal, but applying this specifically to guide therapy in pancreatic cancer is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goenka, Ajit Harishkumar — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Goenka, Ajit Harishkumar
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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.