Using PET/CT scans to spot vein inflammation and clot risk in children and young adults with cancer
Official title: PET/CT Imaging of Venous Thromboembolism in Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Oncology
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11132970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses PET/CT scans with a glucose tracer to look for vein inflammation that may signal higher risk of dangerous blood clots in children, adolescents, and young adults receiving chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $671,175 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171715-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children, adolescents, and young adults with lymphoma who are receiving chemotherapy and who have 18F-FDG PET/CT scans as part of their clinical care are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PET/CT imaging, those with cancers other than lymphoma not included in the study, or people not receiving chemotherapy are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
The team will use 18F-FDG PET/CT images taken during routine cancer care to measure inflammation along veins in pediatric and AYA patients with lymphoma. They will first confirm the imaging signal in lab and preclinical work, then apply the method to clinical images and medical records to see which patients later develop venous thromboembolism (VTE). The researchers will also explore whether preventive blood thinners reduce the imaging signs of vein inflammation. If I were involved, my existing PET/CT scans and medical data could be used without extra invasive procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help identify young cancer patients at high risk for blood clots so clinicians can target preventive treatment and reduce VTE-related harm.
How similar studies have gone: PET/CT imaging with 18F-FDG has been used to detect vascular inflammation in adults and to study thrombosis, but applying it specifically to predict VTE risk in pediatric and AYA oncology is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stacy, Mitchel R — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Stacy, Mitchel R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
PET/CT imaging to detect chemotherapy-related vascular harm in young cancer patients
A non-invasive PET/CT scan method using standard care imaging is being tested to identify which pediatric and young adult cancer patients are at higher risk of blood clots from chemotherapy.
-
Statins to Prevent Cancer-Associated Blood Clots in Cancer Patients
A large study will test whether taking rosuvastatin every day for a year can lower the chance of dangerous blood clots in people with cancer, without raising the risk of bleeding.
-
Optimal use of blood thinners for venous clots in people with cirrhosis
This grant hopes to figure out the safest and most effective way to use oral anticoagulants for adults with cirrhosis who develop venous clots.
-
Statins to Prevent Cancer-Associated Blood Clots in Cancer Patients
A large clinical trial will test whether taking rosuvastatin daily for a year helps prevent dangerous blood clots in people with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer who aren’t already getting anticoagulants.
-
BCOR's role in blood clot risk and liver genetics
A Johns Hopkins-led study is exploring how a human gene, BCOR, may control liver-produced clotting factors to influence venous blood clots.
-
Personalized risk-prediction for hospital-acquired blood clots in adults
A real-time risk model helps doctors identify adults in the hospital who are at higher risk of developing blood clots so they can prevent them safely.
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.