What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Common treatments for lung cancer, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have several known side effects. Radiotherapy can cause fatigue, skin irritation, and esophagitis. Chemotherapy often leads to nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and increased infection risk due to lowered white blood cell counts. Specific agents like cisplatin can cause nephrotoxicity, while etoposide may lead to neurotoxicity.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

The FDA has approved several treatments for lung cancer, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies. For instance, Afatinib is approved for EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which targets specific genetic mutations. Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy, has been approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for advanced squamous NSCLC, showing improved overall survival rates. While specific FDA approvals for hypoxia-measuring techniques like the FAZA PET scan are not detailed, the use of PET scans in lung cancer for assessing tumor characteristics and treatment response is well-established.

What other types of research exist?

A promising alternative to Fluoroazomycin Arabinoside (FAZA) PET scans for measuring hypoxia in lung cancer is Fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) PET scans. FMISO has been shown to have a higher sensitivity in detecting hypoxic regions in some studies. Other novel imaging modalities and radiotracers may also emerge as research progresses, but FMISO is currently a notable alternative.

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18F-FAZA PET Scan for Lung Cancer

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Alex Sun, MD

Research Sponsored by University Health Network, Toronto

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up up to 5 years

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial uses a special scan with a special substance to find low oxygen levels in lung cancer tumors. It targets lung cancer patients about to start treatment. The special substance highlights low-oxygen areas in the tumor, helping doctors understand the tumor better. The special substance has been used in various studies to evaluate low oxygen areas within tumors.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults over 18 with stage II or III lung cancer who are set to receive radiotherapy. It's open to those with both non-small cell (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), even if they're getting other treatments too. Women must test negative for pregnancy before the PET scan, and all participants need to be able to lie on their back for an hour and give written consent.

What is being tested?

The study tests a PET scan using a tracer called FAZA that detects low oxygen levels in tumors, which can affect how well cancer responds to treatment. Participants will have one FAZA PET scan before starting radiotherapy, aiming to see if this method offers better insights into tumor hypoxia than current techniques.

What are the potential side effects?

While the description doesn't list specific side effects of FAZA, similar radiotracers used in PET scans may cause temporary discomfort at the injection site, allergic reactions, or rare changes in blood sugar levels.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ up to 5 years

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~up to 5 years

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 5 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: 18-F-FAZA ScanExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

All patients enrolled in this study will receive a FAZA PET Scan prior to their first radiation therapy fraction

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Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Common treatments for lung cancer include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy works by targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells, disrupting their growth and replication. Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to damage the DNA of cancer cells, leading to cell death. Immunotherapy, such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, enhances the body's immune response against cancer cells. The FAZA PET scan measures hypoxia, which is crucial because hypoxic tumors are often more resistant to these treatments. Understanding and targeting hypoxia can help optimize treatment strategies and improve outcomes for lung cancer patients.

A Review of Recent Advances in the Treatment of Elderly and Poor Performance NSCLC.Systemic therapy for lung cancer brain metastases: a rationale for clinical trials.