18f-mfbg expression in neural crest tumors and organs innervated by the sympathetic nervous system

Conditions: Neuroblastoma; Pheochromocytoma; Paraganglioma

Summary: this is a prospective phase 2 study being performed to document the relationship between 18f-mibg positron emission tomography (pet) findings in subjects, and expression of the norepinephrine transporter. in addition to collecting safety data for the imaging agent, the study aims to: * compare the findings against other catacholamine transporters * evaluate the imaging results at different time points and in different organs * assess the quality of images with lower doses * compare the ability to detect neuroblastoma lesions against other imaging agents, and in other tumors

this is a prospective, phase 2, open-label study designed to assess the relationship of 18f- mfbg pet imaging findings and net expression in neuroblastoma tumor (cohort i) and adrenergically-innervated organs in non-tumor subjects or neural crest tumors other than neuroblastoma (e.g. pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma) (cohort ii). as the mechanism of cellular uptake of benzylguanidine compounds such as mfbg is predominantly via cell-surface net, there should be a demonstrable relationship between level of net expression, whether expressed on neuroblastoma tumor, other neural crest tumors, or organs innervated by sympathetic neurons, and 18f-mfbg pet results. eligible participants will either have: histopathologically established diagnosis of neuroblastoma and a scheduled clinical biopsy or surgery procedure within 21 days after 18f-mfbg pet imaging procedure; or be scheduled to have a clinical biopsy or surgery procedure that will yield a tissue specimen from an adrenergically-innervated organ or a non-neuroblastoma neural crest tumor within 21 days after 18f-mfbg pet imaging. at least one tissue specimen must be expected to be suitable for analysis of net expression. every subject will be expected to have at least 1 suitable recent tissue specimen available for net expression analysis. neuroblastoma subjects will also have undergone at least 1 exam with the current standard of care benzylguanidine imaging agent, 123i-mibg, during the course of clinical care following the original diagnosis of neuroblastoma. all subjects will undergo 18f-mfbg pet imaging using either clinical pet/ct or pet/mri equipment. pet studies will be examined on-site by a board-certified nuclear medicine physician or a board-certified radiologist experienced in reading 123i-mibg and pet scans to ensure technical image quality and information content.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: i. neuroblastoma subjects (cohort i) 1. the subject has an established diagnosis of neuroblastoma based on unequivocal histopathology from tissue obtained at any time prior to enrollment in the trial. 2. functional imaging (123i-mibg or 18f-fdg) studies performed within 60 days prior to receiving investigational drug in the trial are available for retrieval and independent review. 3. the subject is scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure (surgery or biopsy) for diagnosis or therapy of neuroblastoma within 21 days after receiving investigational drug in the trial, with no therapy in the interval between 18f-mfbg imaging and surgery/biopsy. 4. histology specimens from the biopsy or surgical procedure are expected to be available and suitable for net expression analyses. ii. non-neuroblastoma subjects (cohort ii): 5. the subject is scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure (surgery or biopsy) to obtain tissue from an adrenergically-innervated organ or a neural crest tumor within 21 days after 18f-mfbg imaging. 6. histology specimens from the biopsy or surgical procedure are expected to be available and suitable for net expression analyses. iii. all subjects: 7. the subject is able and willing to comply with study procedures and a signed and dated informed consent (supplemented by signed and dated assent from subjects age 7-17) is obtained from the subject and/or at least 1 parent/guardian. exclusion criteria: study population - the population will consist of either: subjects with histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of neuroblastoma; or subjects with a clinical indication for biopsy or surgical sampling of an adrenergically-innervated organ or a non-neuroblastoma neural crest tumor. inclusion criteria: subjects will be eligible for participation in the study only if they meet all of the following criteria: i. neuroblastoma subjects (cohort i) 1. the subject has an established diagnosis of neuroblastoma based on unequivocal histopathology from tissue obtained at any time prior to enrollment in the trial. 2. functional imaging (123i-mibg or 18f-fdg) studies performed within 60 days prior to receiving investigational drug in the trial are available for retrieval and independent review. 3. the subject is scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure (surgery or biopsy) for diagnosis or therapy of neuroblastoma within 21 days after receiving investigational drug in the trial, with no therapy in the interval between 18f-mfbg imaging and surgery/biopsy. 4. histology specimens from the biopsy or surgical procedure are expected to be available and suitable for net expression analyses. ii. non-neuroblastoma subjects (cohort ii) 5. the subject is scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure (surgery or biopsy) to obtain tissue from an adrenergically-innervated organ or a neural crest tumor within 21 days after 18f-mfbg imaging. 6. histology specimens from the biopsy or surgical procedure are expected to be available and suitable for net expression analyses. iii. all subjects 7. the subject is able and willing to comply with study procedures and a signed and dated informed consent (supplemented by signed and dated assent from subjects age 7-17) is obtained from the subject and/or at least 1 parent/guardian. exclusion criteria: subjects will not be eligible for participation in the study if they meet any of the following criteria: 1. previously enrolled in this study. 2. unable to lie flat or remain still for approximately 30 minutes to allow performance of a pet scan. 3. the subject has a history or suspicion of significant allergic reaction or anaphylaxis to any components of the 18f-mfbg imaging agent. 4. the subject is pregnant, breast feeding, or menarchal and unwilling to use effective contraception during the study. 5. uses medications that are known to interfere with uptake of net-dependent agents (e.g., certain antidepressants and sympathomimetics) and these medications cannot be safely withheld 24 hours before study procedures.