PET scans to track glutamine use in triple-negative breast cancer
PET Imaging of Glutamine Metabolism and Glutamate Transport to Guide Metabolically Targeted Therapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
This project uses special PET scans with an amino-acid tracer to see how triple-negative breast cancers use glutamine so doctors can better match metabolism-targeted treatments to patients.
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-11324557 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will use dynamic PET imaging with an amino-acid tracer ([18F]fluciclovine) to measure tumor glutamine levels and glutamate transport. They will develop and validate imaging markers that reflect how much the tumor depends on glutamine and how it moves glutamate in and out of cancer cells. Work will include laboratory models and translation to patient imaging so the markers can help guide use of drugs that block glutamine metabolism and glutamate transport. The goal is to give doctors a noninvasive way to identify tumors most likely to respond to these metabolism-targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with triple-negative breast cancer, especially those with aggressive or treatment-resistant tumors who can undergo PET imaging.
Not a fit: Patients with other breast cancer subtypes, those who cannot have PET scans, or tumors that do not rely on glutamine metabolism are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify which triple-negative breast cancer patients are likely to benefit from therapies that block glutamine metabolism and allow doctors to monitor treatment response.
How similar studies have performed: Drugs that block glutamine metabolism (GLS inhibitors) have been tested in early trials with modest results, and using PET imaging to guide selection is a newer approach supported by promising preclinical data.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mankoff, David a. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Mankoff, David a.
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.