Overview
Whole body CT is the primary imaging method in staging and follow-up of colon cancer. Conventional PET-CT with 18F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has its limitations and has a secondary role in colon cancer protocols. A new PET tracer, fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI), targeting a protein that is overexpressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts presents a potential new PET imaging tool.
The objective of this prospective study is to evaluate diagnostic efficacy of 18F-FAPI-74 PET/CT in patients with colon cancer. The aim is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FAPI-74 in detection of local lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis in patient level in patients with colon cancer in primary staging and when suspected recurrence. 100 patients with colon cancer are enrolled and PET/CT studies are performed with the novel 18F-FAPI-74 tracer. The data will be collected between 2024-2026.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with primary colon cancer with suspicion of mesenteric lymph node metastases in computed tomography before primary cancer operation
- Patients with primary colon cancer with potentially curable metastases
- Patients with suspected metastasis or local recurrence in computed tomography and/or elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in cancer surveillance
- WHO performance score 0-2
- Patient signs informed consent form after receiving written information
Exclusion Criteria:
- Vulnerable study subjects such as described in Finnish law clinical studies (disabled, children, pregnant or breast-feeding women, prisoners) will not be included
- Patient is not able to understand purpose of study
- Medical conditions prohibiting whole body PET-CT