Using PET imaging to predict response to hormone therapy in advanced breast cancer
Official title: FFNP-PET as a predictive biomarker of response to endocrine therapy approaches in advanced breast cancer
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10914107 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a special type of imaging to see how well women with advanced estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer respond to hormone treatments, helping doctors figure out which patients might benefit the most from these therapies.
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 start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $595,711 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273194-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914107 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer that is not estrogen receptor-positive or those who have already progressed on all forms of endocrine therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of a specific type of PET imaging, called FFNP-PET, to determine how well patients with advanced breast cancer respond to hormone therapies. The study focuses on patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which is a common type of breast cancer. By using a radiotracer that targets the progesterone receptor, the researchers aim to identify which patients are likely to benefit from endocrine therapy, potentially allowing for more personalized treatment plans. The approach involves imaging before and after a brief hormone challenge to assess changes in receptor activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help identify patients who will respond well to hormone therapy, improving treatment outcomes and potentially avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results using similar imaging techniques to predict treatment responses in breast cancer, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shoghi, Kooresh Isaac — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Shoghi, Kooresh Isaac
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-
FFNP-PET scans to predict hormone therapy response in advanced ER-positive breast cancer
This project uses a special PET scan called FFNP to find which people with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer are likely to benefit from hormone (endocrine) therapies.
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.