The Role of the Imaging FAPI PET/CT in Exploring the Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases (FOAM)

Free University of Brussels (ULB)

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Liver Metastases From Colorectal Cancer

Treatments

Diagnostic Test: FAPI PET/CT

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT07109440

IJB-NM-FOAM

Details and patient eligibility

About

FAPI PET/CT molecular imaging represents a cutting-edge advancement in oncological imaging, particularly for the preoperative assessment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPIs), which are the focus of this imaging modality, selectively target cancer-associated fibroblasts, a critical component of the tumor microenvironment. FAPI PET/CT could be useful in the detection of HGP (Histological Growth Pattern) and in the changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery

Full description

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in tumor development and therapeutic response. The understanding of the TME components, especially cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) remains limited. CAFs are among the most abundant and versatile components of the tumor stroma and they are implicated in all the hallmarks of cancer. They have a heterogenous phenotype within a single cell. Some CAFs may have immunosuppressive properties. In liver, there are two obvious physiological sources of CAFs: resident portal fibroblasts (PFs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) . A recent study showed that based on the gene expression profile there are three major subsets of CAFs in colorectal primary tumors and in liver metastasis, including secretory CAFs, ECM-remodeling CAFs and contractile CAFs . In patients undergoing resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLMs) the histological growth patterns (HGP) reflect tumor biology and local infiltrating behavior . The HGPs of liver metastases reflect the ways in which cancer cells interact with the surrounding liver. The transition from one HGP to another could occur in patients with CRLM following systemic treatment .

FAPI PET/CT molecular imaging represents a cutting-edge advancement in oncological imaging, particularly for the preoperative assessment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPIs), which are the focus of this imaging modality, selectively target cancer-associated fibroblasts, a critical component of the tumor microenvironment. FAPI PET/CT could be useful in the detection of HGP and in the changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery

Enrollment

50 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age above 18 years.
Liver metastasis on standard imaging for the initial assessment (MRI, FDG PET/CT)
Naïve for treatment or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Scheduled for liver metastasis resection
ECOG Performance status ≤2.
Signed written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Non-resectable liver metastases
Pregnant and lactating women
Subjects with another significant medical condition which, in the investigator's opinion, may interfere with the completion of the study.