Molecular imaging of pituitary adenomas
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Molecular imaging of pituitary adenomas
IRAS ID
225505
Contact name
Aled Rees
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Pituitary adenomas are benign tumours which arise in the pituitary gland and affect 1 in 10 of the population. These tumours are often small (many are <1cm) and difficult to visualise even by modern imaging techniques such as MRI. It can also be difficult to distinguish tumour tissue from normal pituitary gland or from surgical scar tissue in patients who have undergone pituitary surgery. Such a distinction is particularly important to make when deciding whether to proceed with further surgery or consider alternative treatments such as radiotherapy or medication. Newer imaging techniques are therefore needed to complement MRI in order to improve patient management. Preliminary studies have shown that PET imaging (positron emission tomography) may be helpful but the imaging tracers used previously have very short shelf-lives making them impractical for widespread use. Experimental data suggest that two other PET tracers, called FDOPA and Fallypride, might be taken up by hormone producing cells in the pituitary gland and might be helpful in imaging pituitary tumours. Human studies are needed to confirm these findings. In this preliminary study, we aim to undertake FDOPA and Fallypride-PET scans in twenty patients with pituitary tumours who are undergoing pituitary imaging (MRI) as part of their routine clinical care. Because Fallypride binds to the same target (the dopamine D2 receptor) as a commonly used drug for pituitary tumours called cabergoline, we will also collect a blood sample from patients on cabergoline treatment to compare drug levels with the fallypride scans. We also plan to store pituitary tumour tissue for subsequent measurement of dopamine D2 receptor levels, in addition to the standard pathological analyses which are undertaken as part of routine clinical care.
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
17/WA/0147
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion