FAZA PET/MRI Sarcoma
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03418818 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : February 1, 2018
Last Update Posted : June 4, 2020
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This is a single arm, single centre, investigator initiated study to investigate the use of FAZA-PET in combination with MRI. FAZA is an investigational radiotracer used in PET scans. FAZA PET/MRI will be used to measure hypoxia in sarcoma tissues of 14 patients who plan to undergo neoadjuvant radiation/chemotherapy treatment.
After the FAZA PET/MRI scan, patients will be followed up via telephone, 48 hours after the scan, to see if there are any side effects due to FAZA. Patients may also be requested to repeat the FAZA scan after their standard of care radiation treatment.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Sarcoma | Drug: 18F-FAZA | Not Applicable |
Mutliple studies show that hypoxia in sarcoma has been consistently associated with poor treatment outcomes. Subsequently, there has been a study that shows inhibition of hypoxia-induced transcription factor (HIF-1 alpha), with radiation, was effective in disease treatment in pre-clinical models. This shows how important hypoxia was in playing a role in overall disease outcome and survival.
As a means of examining tumor features, such as hypoxia, hybrid PET/MR imaging combines the advantages of MRI's soft-tissue and contrast resolution with PET's functional metabolic capabilities. There have been few reports of using 18F-FDG in diagnostic PET/MRI. with the use of 18F-FAZA in this study, parameters such as diffusion, micro-perfusion, and contrast enhancement (as a surrogate marker for viable tumour tissue) can be simultaneously compared with the FAZA-derived pattern, in a single procedure.
The study is being conducted to measure the volume of hypoxic tumor in high-risk STS patients, using FAZA-PET/MRI, before and after neoadjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 14 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Diagnostic |
Official Title: | A Prospective Study of Hypoxia Imaging in Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcoma Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) With 18F-Fluoroazomycin Arabinoside (18F-FAZA) in Combination With MRI |
Actual Study Start Date : | March 27, 2018 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | March 15, 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 15, 2022 |

- Drug: 18F-FAZA
18F-FAZA is a radiotracer used for PET imaging (in combination with MRI) to detect hypoxia in tumours. This scan will be done before and after their radiation treatment.
- Grade of FAZA uptake in the primary tumor [ Time Frame: 2 years ]Graded based on images from the 2-hour static scan: 0, uptake less than surrounding normal background tissues; 1, no regions of focal uptake higher than that of background; 2, focal uptake moderately higher than background; and 3, focal uptake markedly higher than background

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Patients with either: high-risk extremity STS (g2-3, > 10 cm largest dimension, and leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour, or undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma), or: high-risk RPS (g2-3, and leiomyosarcoma or dedifferentiated liposarcoma)
- Intention to treat using radiotherapy/chemotherapy/surgery according to the current treatment policies of the Sarcoma Site Group of PM
- A negative serum pregnancy test within the two-week interval immediately prior to PET-MR imaging, for women of child-bearing age
- Ability to provide written informed consent to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous radiotherapy to intended treatment volumes.
- Previous systemic therapy
- Active malignancy other than sarcoma
- Unable to remain supine for at least 60 minutes
- Pregnancy or breast feeding
- Age less than 18 years old
- Failure to provide written informed consent
- Contraindication for MR as per current institutional guidelines.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03418818
Canada, Ontario | |
University Health Network | Recruiting |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, L4W4C2 | |
Contact: David Shultz, MD 416-946-4501 ext 2127 david.shultz@rmp.uhn.ca |
Responsible Party: | University Health Network, Toronto |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03418818 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
17-6178 |
First Posted: | February 1, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 4, 2020 |
Last Verified: | June 2020 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
hypoxia sarcoma FAZA PET Imaging |
Sarcoma Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms |
Fluoroazomycin arabinoside Radiopharmaceuticals Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |