[68Ga]Ga-FAPI PET/CT in Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junctional Cancer

NCT ID: NCT05898854

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-02-15

Study Completion Date

2025-12-18

Brief Summary

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Twenty (n=20) patients with gastric cancer or gastro-esophageal junctional cancer will undergo FAPI PET/CTs in addition to routing diagnostic workup (including FDG PET/CT) at primary staging and restaging.

The FAPI PET/CT results will be compared to conventional imaging (including FDG PET/CT) using histopathology as reference standard, and the diagnostic accuracy will be determined. FAP-immunohistochemistry will be conducted in surgical specimens. FAPI PET/CT's impact on patient management and the prognostic value of FAPI PET/CT will be evaluated.

Detailed Description

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A new and promising PET-tracer in oncology has been developed; Gallium-68 labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI). In general, FAPI PET/CT delivers increased sensitivity compared to 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in cancer types of mesenchymal origin (i.e., sarcomas), and in cancers characterized by a large proportion of stromal cells such as gastric and pancreatic cancers. It is currently debated whether FAPI PET/CT will take over FDG PET/CTs well-established role in oncological PET/CT, but more studies are needed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. The clinical interest in FAPI extends beyond the use as a diagnostic tool, as the 68Ga-isotope can be replaced by a β-emitting isotope, e.g., 177-Lu or 90-Y, enabling radionuclide therapy of FAPI-avid cancers.

In recent comparative studies of FDG- and FAPI PET/CT, all primary tumors of the stomach were detected on FAPI PET, whereas the reported detection rate on FDG PET ranged from 40% to 86%. Regarding metastases, FAPI PET/CT showed comparable or better detection rate for regional lymph nodes, but outperformed FDG PET/CT in the detection of peritoneal and other distant metastases. Re-staging with FAPI PET after chemotherapy has been attempted in only a handful of patients and seems feasible.

Even though the results of FAPI PET/CT compared to conventional imaging seem convincing, there are several limitations and therefore FAPI PET/CT is not yet implemented in cancer diagnostics.

The investigators are conducting a prospective explorative study complying with the Standard for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) criteria where 20 patients with gastric cancer or gastro-eophageal junctional cancer are recruited.

Study subject will undergo FAPI PET/CT at primary staging (before treatment, i.e., neoadjuvant chemotherapy or surgery) and at restaging (after neoadjuvant chemotherapy - before surgery) in addition to routing diagnostic workup (including FDG PET/CT). The FAPI PET/CT will be blinded and the choice of treatment will not be influence by the FAPI PET/CT results'. The additional scans will not interfere with or delay routine diagnostic workup or treatment.

The FAPI PET/CTs (at primary staging and restaging) will be compared to the corresponding FDG PET/CTs, and histopathology of biopsied material and surgical specimens will serve as reference standard. FAPI PET/CTs before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy will be assessed and compared to the FDG PET/CTs. FAP-immunohistochemistry will be conducted in surgical specimens. A tentative retrospective Multi-Disciplinary Team conference (MDT) will be arranged where treating clinicans are presented the FAPI PET/CT, and potential changes in patient management will be evaluated. This tentative MDT will not influence patient management. Follow up will be conducted for 10 years to evaluate the prognostic value of FAPI PET/CT.

Conditions

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Gastric Cancer Gastro Esophageal Junctional Cancer Cancer

Keywords

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FAPI PET/CT FAPI PET/CT Cancer Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Twenty consecutive patients newly diagnosed with gastric or gastro-esophageal junction cancer are recruited.
Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Gastric or gastro-esophageal junctioncancer

Patients with biopsy verified gastric or gastro-esophageal junction cancer undergo FAPI PET/CT in addition to conventional imaging

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

68Ga-FAPi-46

Intervention Type DRUG

Gastric or gatro-esophageal junction cancer patients undergo 68Ga-FAPi-46 PET/CT at primary staging and at restaging

Interventions

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68Ga-FAPi-46

Gastric or gatro-esophageal junction cancer patients undergo 68Ga-FAPi-46 PET/CT at primary staging and at restaging

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Newly diagnosed with biopsy verified gastric or GEJ cancer and referred to primary staging FDG PET/CT
* Deemed resectable and operable at the MDT, with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy
* Considered physically and mentally able to participate in the research project
* Can read and understand Danish
* 18-years or older and able to consent to project participation

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with non-resectable, inoperable, or recurrent gastric or GEJ cancer
* Patients with an imminent need for surgery or in an emergency
* Known concurrent other malignancy within the previous 5 years other than non-melanoma skin cancer
* Patients not suited for surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery
* Subject weighing more than 180 kg (weight limit scanner) or unable to fit within the imaging gantry
* History of allergic reactions / hypersensitivity attributed to 18F-FDG or 68Ga-FAPI-46.
* Severe claustrophobia unresponsive to oral anxiolytics
* Subjects with any medical condition or other circumstances that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would significantly decrease the reliability of data, achievement of study objectives or completing the study.
* Pregnant, lactating, or breastfeeding women.
* Potential pregnant women of childbearing potential\[1\] not using effective contraceptives\[2\]. Potential pregnancy will be ascertained by a pregnancy test (urine humane choriogonadotropin (HCG) or serum HCG) \< 48 hours before injection with 68Ga-FAPI-46.
* Inability to remain still for the duration of the examination

1. Women of childbearing potential are defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, i.e., not sterilized (bilateral tubectomy/occlusion, hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy) and not post-menopausal. In cases of uncertain menopausal status, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and menstruation history can be assessed.
2. Effective contraceptives include sexual abstinence, vasectomized partner, combined hormonal contraception (oral, intravaginal, transdermal), progesterone-only contraceptive (oral, injectable, implantable), or working intrauterine device (hormonal, non-hormonal).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Aalborg University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Morten Bentestuen

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Aalborg University Hospital

Aalborg, North Denmark, Denmark

Site Status

Countries

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Denmark

References

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Lindner T, Loktev A, Altmann A, Giesel F, Kratochwil C, Debus J, Jager D, Mier W, Haberkorn U. Development of Quinoline-Based Theranostic Ligands for the Targeting of Fibroblast Activation Protein. J Nucl Med. 2018 Sep;59(9):1415-1422. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.118.210443. Epub 2018 Apr 6.

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Kessler L, Ferdinandus J, Hirmas N, Bauer S, Dirksen U, Zarrad F, Nader M, Chodyla M, Milosevic A, Umutlu L, Schuler M, Podleska LE, Schildhaus HU, Fendler WP, Hamacher R. 68Ga-FAPI as a Diagnostic Tool in Sarcoma: Data from the 68Ga-FAPI PET Prospective Observational Trial. J Nucl Med. 2022 Jan;63(1):89-95. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.121.262096. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

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Rohrich M, Naumann P, Giesel FL, Choyke PL, Staudinger F, Wefers A, Liew DP, Kratochwil C, Rathke H, Liermann J, Herfarth K, Jager D, Debus J, Haberkorn U, Lang M, Koerber SA. Impact of 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT Imaging on the Therapeutic Management of Primary and Recurrent Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas. J Nucl Med. 2021 Jun 1;62(6):779-786. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.120.253062. Epub 2020 Oct 23.

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Pang Y, Zhao L, Luo Z, Hao B, Wu H, Lin Q, Sun L, Chen H. Comparison of 68Ga-FAPI and 18F-FDG Uptake in Gastric, Duodenal, and Colorectal Cancers. Radiology. 2021 Feb;298(2):393-402. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2020203275. Epub 2020 Dec 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33258746 (View on PubMed)

Qin C, Song Y, Gai Y, Ruan W, Liu Q, Liu F, Zheng D, Zhang P, Liu H, Zhang T, Tao K, Lan X. Gallium-68-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor PET in gastrointestinal cancer: insights into diagnosis and management. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2022 Oct;49(12):4228-4240. doi: 10.1007/s00259-022-05847-0. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35657428 (View on PubMed)

Gundogan C, Komek H, Can C, Yildirim OA, Kaplan I, Erdur E, Poyraz K, Guzel Y, Oruc Z, Cakabay B. Comparison of 18F-FDG PET/CT and 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in the staging and restaging of gastric adenocarcinoma. Nucl Med Commun. 2022 Jan 1;43(1):64-72. doi: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000001489.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Jiang D, Chen X, You Z, Wang H, Zhang X, Li X, Ren S, Huang Q, Hua F, Guan Y, Zhao J, Xie F. Comparison of [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and [18F]-FDG for the detection of primary and metastatic lesions in patients with gastric cancer: a bicentric retrospective study. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2022 Jan;49(2):732-742. doi: 10.1007/s00259-021-05441-w. Epub 2021 Jul 23.

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Alan-Selcuk N, Ergen S, Demirci E, Ocak M, Kabasakal L. [68Ga]DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging in a case of a signet ring cell carcinoma of stomach. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2021 Dec;48(13):4523-4524. doi: 10.1007/s00259-021-05213-6. Epub 2021 Jun 19. No abstract available.

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Fan C, Guo W, Su G, Chen B, Chen H. Widespread Metastatic Gastric Signet-Ring Cell Carcinoma Shown by 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT. Clin Nucl Med. 2021 Feb 1;46(2):e78-e79. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003245.

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Meyer C, Dahlbom M, Lindner T, Vauclin S, Mona C, Slavik R, Czernin J, Haberkorn U, Calais J. Radiation Dosimetry and Biodistribution of 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET Imaging in Cancer Patients. J Nucl Med. 2020 Aug;61(8):1171-1177. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.119.236786. Epub 2019 Dec 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Other Identifiers

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2023-505916-40-00

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

EU CTIS no.: 2023-505916-40-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id