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Immunomodulating Agents

Pyruvate

60 participants who accepted ICI treatment will receive conventional imaging

30 participants who accepted ICI treatment will receive next generation imaging including MRF and MR Relaxometry and hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate DNP scanning.

DNP-MRI for splenic immune function evaluation through hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate injection

Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate injection

Gigin Lin, MD, PhD

Kuan-Ying Lu, MS

The investigators aim to develop an advanced imaging platform, such as dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) 13C-MRI, MR fingerprinting (MRF) and MR Relaxometry, which combines with traditional anatomical contrast CT, MRI and PET, and integrate blood/urine metabolomics methods. A comprehensive strategy to thoroughly analyze the immune activation of spleen pattern, microstructure, cell density, red blood cell iron content, immune cell glycolysis and metabolic flow rate.

The investigators plan a 3-year trial with a randomized, two-groups allocation observational study design that will enroll 90 subjects with newly diagnosed or recurrent gynecological cancer from Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) receiving ICI therapy for this prospective study. Standard cares, eg. MRI/CT/PET, are priorly required for the first-line screening method, with tumor slides and routine blood work at the initial visit. After being randomly assigned, 30 eligible subjects will be assigned to the next-generation imaging group, and will receive two integrated examinations between the baseline and 2 weeks of immunotherapy-the integrated examination of DNP and metabolomics.

Subjects in the next-generation imaging group will receive splenic DNP imaging, followed by non-contrast-enhancing MRF at the lesion and MR Relaxometry, which provide quantitative measurements of metabolism occurring within the spleen and within the cancer cells, respectively. DNP is injected with 13C contrast agent hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate (HP \[1-13C\] Pyruvate) intravenously in the arm, and the study drug is injected at a dose of 0.43 ml/kg, which is labeled with the non-radioactive isotope 13C at the C1 position, hyperpolarized 13C signals are obtained through MR spectrum acquisition, and then MRF sequences are performed to obtain multi-parameter tissue characteristics. The general imaging group will receive the same MR strategies but without spleen DNP scan.

All MRI sequences will be performed on a 3T clinical scanner (Discovery MR750w,GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, USA) with a flexible surface 13C/1H multinuclear transmit-receive coil (RAPID Biomedical, Bavaria, Germany) to cover the splenic region.

DNP-MRI:

To comply with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) of pharmaceuticals, \[1-13C\]pyruvate for human will be prepared in the ISO 8 clean room and ISO 5 laminar flow in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taiwan. The premixed \[1-13C\]pyruvic acid/12.5 mM Electronic Paramagnetic Agent (Electronic Paramagnetic Agent; EPA; AH111501, GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) will be packed into a sterile pharmacy Kit (Sterile Fluid Path; SFP, GE Research Circle Technology) and polarized in the polarizer (SPINlab, GE Research Circle Technology) at 0.7 - 0.8 K and a magnetic field of 5 T for at least 2 - 3 hrs. After being quickly dissolved in heated water, it will pass through an EPA filter to remove excess EPA and be mixed with neutralization medium (NaOH/TRIS/EDTA) in the receiver, and then automatically detected by optical measurement in the QC machine (GE GE Research Circle Technology), including pyruvate concentration, EPA concentration, pH, temperature, volume, and polarization level, while simultaneously drawing a solution containing hyperpolarized \[1-13C\]pyruvate through a 0.2 μm terminal filter (ZenPure, Manassas, Virginia) into an administration syringe (Medrad, Warrendale, Pennsylvania) to ensure sterility. After the responsible physician checks that the QC parameters meet the criteria, the patient will be injected intravenously at a dose of 0.43 mL/Kg at a flow rate of 5 mL/s, and then flushed with 20 mL of physiological saline. Terminal filter integrity (Threshold = 50 psi) will be checked immediately after dispensing.

During 13C-MRI scanning, a set of image detections will be performed first for positioning, and then the 13C signal will be calibrated, including gradient shimming, 13C center frequency confirmation (calculated from the 1H center frequency) and emission gain optimization (using the Bloch-Sieger sequence ), after a 30-second delay from injection, the following rapid 13C sequence will be performed, which will take approximately 2-3 minutes:

1. Pulse acquisition of 13C spectra: flip angle = 10°; TR = 2000 ms; slice thickness = 30 mm; read bandwidth = 5000 Hz; spectral collection points 2048; repetition = 14; acquisition time = 2000 ms; time-resolved Rate = 2000 ms.
2. 13C metabolite-specific imaging of pyruvate, lactate, and alanine (spectral-spatial RF pulses followed by helical readout): TR = 250 ms; TE = N/A; in-plane spatial resolution = 10 x 10 mm\^2; matrix size = 128 x 128 mm\^2; field of view = 22 x 22 cm\^2; slice thickness = 20 mm; flip angle = 15°/30°/30° (pyruvate/lactate/alanine); acquisition time = 250 ms; time resolution = 1000 ms.
3. 13C chemical shift imaging: TR = 80ms; TE = N/A; in-plane spatial resolution = 25 x 25 mm\^2; matrix size = 8 x 8 mm\^2; field of view = 20 x 20 cm\^2; slice thickness = 20 mm ; Flip angle = 15°; Acquisition time = 80 ms.

DWI:

The clinical MR study will continue after 13C DNP with the original scanner and will use single-echo planar technique with fat suppression (repetition time ms/echo time ms: 3300/79; number of signal averages: 4; slice thickness: 4 mm ; gap; 1 mm; matrix: 128x128 mm\^2; field of view 20 x 20 cm\^2). The highest b-value of 1000 sec/mm\^2 has been chosen to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. Diffusion-weighted gradients are applied orthogonally for slice selection, phase encoding and readout direction, and the slope will be calculated from the logarithmic decay curve of signal intensity versus b-value (Syngo, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany).

MR Fingerprinting (MRF):

MAGiC (MAGnetic resonance image Compilation) will use 2D fast spin echo based multi-saturation delayed multi-echo acquisition. Steady-state free precession (SSFP) is used for MRF acquisition with acquisition traces interleaved using 89 under sampled golden angle helices, sampling bandwidth = ±250 kHz, TR = 9 ms, TE = 2.2 ms, NEX = 1 and 979 frames . B0 and B1 are not included in the sequence but slice outlines are included to improve T2 accuracy, other imaging parameters used in MAGiC and MRF scans are: FOV = 22 x 22 mm\^2; matrix = 256 x 256; slice thickness = 4 mm, 1 mm gap; 20 pieces. Time intervals of scan are approximately 4 minutes and 3.6 minutes, respectively.

MR Relaxometry:

The iterative decomposition of water and fat with an echo asymmetry at least-square estimation-iron quantification (IDEAL-IQ) sequence has the following parameters: TR 10 ms; TE 4.7 ms; echo number 6, ranging from 1.1 ms to 6.38 ms FOV 35-40 cm; matrix size 128 × 128; pixel bandwidth 325 Hz; flip angle 6; slice thickness 10 mm; space between slices 5 mm. The scans are acquired during a breath-hold lasting less than 30 seconds. R2\* is calculated using the following formula: R2\*IDEAL = -1.276 + 1.2366 \* R2\*GRE. R2\* is then converted to iron concentration (mg/g) using the widely used formula proposed by Wood et al.: Iron concentration = 0.202 + 0.0254 x R2\*

While there is no accepted normal range for spleen iron, 1.98 mg/g is suggested as an upper limit, with 2.74 mg/g reported to be pathological. Splenic iron varies by age and sex. Spleen iron content is higher in men than in women (men: 0.96 ± 0.34 mg/g, women: 0.87 ± 0.29 mg/g). In women, menopause is associated with 0.12 mg/g higher spleen iron. It must be noted that the GRE echo time of abdominal MRI is insufficient to quantify iron when iron exceeds the threshold (approximately 4 mg/g)

Metabolomics:

Plasma, urine and/or tissue samples collected from patients will be further analyzed by 1H high-resolution NMR (Bruker 600MHz NMR spectrometer) and LC-TOFMS (Waters Q-TOFMS) located at the Clinical Metabolomics Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Standard metabolomics software - GeneSpring MS, Markerlyn XS and Metaboanalyst, will also be used for multivariate data analysis and presentation. The METLIN, HMDB, and KEGG databases will be searched for an accurate set of features showing significant differences between the groups of before and after immunotherapies. Compound predictions will be performed using metabolite databases and formula generation software. Non-commercial and commercial applications such as MetaboAnalyst for metabolomics studies are also available. Laboratory examinations include routine inflammatory indices, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, plasma antioxidant index (TAC), cellular antioxidant index (GPX), DNA damage index (8-OHdG ) and lipid oxidation and inflammation index (MPO); conventional metabolic indexes, such as LDH, lactate and pyruvate; and immune function-related indexes, such as T Cell \& B Cell, T Cell Subset tests, HLA-B27, IL-6, a1-globulin and a2-globulin. If the patient has undergone slides for histopathological diagnosis, tissue LDH and MCT protein expression will also be determined.

Hyperpolarized 13C MRI for Cancer Immunotherapy

Next Generation Precision Imaging for Cancer Immunotherapy: Dynamic Nuclear Polarization and Metabolomics Study

Correlate the prognosis with the primary and the secondary outcomes

National Science and Technology Council

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Clinical Professor

Patients receive hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate through IV injection less than 1-2 minute then undergo MRI over 3-5 minutes at baseline and 2 weeks after CCRT treatment. Total 2 times of MRI scan.

Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Undergo 1H-MRI of DWI/MRF/CEST for tumor cite following by 13C DNP-MRI for spleen for 3-5 minutes after hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate injection

Hyperpolarized 13C Pyruvate

In this single armed, single-center, case-controlled study, the investigators will conduct a prospective trial and integrate the most advanced imaging technology to medical practice, attempting to solve the problem detected by radiomics approach. The investigators plan a 3-year project with non-randomized, single group assignment observational study design. Thirty participants with diagnosed LACC that are to receive CCRT are to be recruited for this prospective single institutional study from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou (CGMH). Standard-of-care MRI/CT that is required for staging will be the first line screening method. A tumor biopsy and routine blood test will be obtained at the time of the initial clinic visit. Participants eligible for this study will receive two investigative exams-MRF, CEST, DNP-MRI MRI and Metabolomics, at baseline and the 2-week during CCRT.

The new imaging methods being tested are MRF and CEST without contrast enhancement, and DNP-MRI which provides quantitative measurement of the metabolism occurring within cancer cells. It also involves injection of a contrast agent-Hyperpolarized pyruvate (13C) Injection. The participants will be injected with the study drug at a dose of 0.43 ml/kg and then receive MRI scan.

Primary objective

1. Bridging the Gap between Imaging and Biology. DNP is the only technology that can measure real-time flux of pyruvate to lactate conversion and mitochondria metabolism. DNP-MRI will combine the strength of MRI (anatomy, tissue contrast via MRF, CEST and DWI) and DNP (biochemistry measurement), and the blood/urine metabolomics approach, to noninvasively bring more insightful information for clinical application.
2. Precision Medicine for Precision Response Prediction. Although AI or deep learning can identify high-risk patient for particularly treatment (CCRT in this project), the predictive model is based on prior database rather than this particular patient. The investigators urgently need a non-invasive precise measurement to monitor the response in a real-world situation, to reduce the treatment uncertainty, to select the most cost-effective treatment. This is of paramount importance for the more advanced treatment i.e. target therapy, immunotherapy etc. The investigators did not intend to change the standard-of-care but the information provided by this study will help to investigate the fundamental mechanisms hence providing hopes for alternative treatments.
3. Infrastructures for MR Fingerprinting and Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP)-MRI Research for Taiwanese researchers. The investigators are very grateful to be able to install the first DNP system dedicated to human research in Asia and would like to introduce this novel technology to Taiwan. Currently, human DNP study has only been conducted in the USA (UCSF, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) and the UK (University College of London, Oxford and Cambridge) and Canada (Toronto University). Based on our preliminary efforts of tracer preparation, multi-nuclei scanning equipment and dedicated pulse sequences, the investigators aim to build infrastructures for MR Fingerprinting and DNP-MRI Research for Taiwanese research groups.

Secondary objective

1. Translate technical advancements to clinically applicable tools
2. Converge integrated information to construct the prediction model
3. Establish the delta radiomics prediction model with biological meaningfulness

Hyperpolarized 13C Pyruvate MRI for Early Immune Evaluation in Cervical Cancer Patients at Baseline and CCRT Therapy

Precision Medicine Imaging for Cervical Cancer: Integrating MR Fingerprinting, Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP)-MRI and Artificial Intelligence Radiomics

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization
Hyperpolarized 13C MRI for Cancer Immunotherapy	NCT05805358	Gynecologic Can... Cervical Cancer Endometrial Can... Ovarian Cancer	Hyperpolarized ...	20 Years -	Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Hyperpolarized 13C MRI for Cancer Immunotherapy	NCT05805358	Gynecologic Can... Cervical Cancer Endometrial Can... Ovarian Cancer	Hyperpolarized ...	20 Years -	Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Hyperpolarized 13C Pyruvate MRI for Early Immune Evaluation in Cervical Cancer Patients at Baseline and CCRT Therapy	NCT04951921	Cervical Cancer	Hyperpolarized ...	20 Years -	Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

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