Precision Thyroid Cancer Surgery With Molecular Fluorescent Guided Imaging (TARGET)

April 14, 2024 updated by: University Medical Center Groningen

Detection of Thyroid Cancer and Central Lymph Node Metastases Using EMI-137 Enhanced Molecular Fluorescent Guided Imaging: a Multicentre Feasibility and

Almost 50 % of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients have central lymph node metastases (CLNM), which are associated with a high risk of persistent or recurrent disease. However, the practice of performing a prophylactic central lymph node dissection (PCLND) routinely remains controversial. The proponents argue that without a PCLND, PTC patients with positive lymph nodes have an increased risk of local recurrence, and postponed node dissection leads to with 5-6 fold higher risk of morbidity. If performed, PCLND in clinical node negative patients increases staging to pN1 in more than 50% of the cases without increasing survival. The complication rate in PCLND is lower when compared to a technically challenging re-exploration in recurrent disease, with reported incidences of 0.6% and 7.3-20%, respectively. Opponents of routine PCLND point out the lack of randomized clinical trials and object to treatment-induced hypo-parathyroidism and recurrent nerve damage for the N0 patients. Currently, no diagnostic tool is available which reliably identifies these patient categories. Therefore, there is a clear need for novel diagnostic imaging modalities that overcome this issue. Molecular Fluorescence Guided Surgery (MFGS) is potentially such a diagnostic tool. The administration of NIR fluorescent tracers can increase detection accuracy of cancer and nodal metastatic tissue using macroscopic MFGS. Therefore, we aimed to identify a GMP-produced near infrared (NIR) tracer that potentially has a high target-to-background ratio in PTC compared to normal thyroid tissue. Tyrosine-protein kinase Met (c-Met) is significantly upregulated at the protein level in PTC compared to normal thyroid tissue. The investigators therefore hypothesize that the GMP-produced NIR-fluorescent tracer EMI-137 (targeting c-Met, peak emission at 675 nm range) might be useful for intraoperative imaging of PTC and nodal metastases. The investigators' aim is to investigate if the administration of EMI-137 is a feasible approach to detect PTC nodal metastases. Ultimately, this method might be useful to improve patient selection for CLND. Eventually, we might also be able to visualize multifocality, more selective lateral neck dissections and asses residual tissue after thyroidectomy. Ultimately, all of these strategies may reduce overtreatment, morbidity, and costs while maintaining the same or better effectiveness with a lower recurrence rate and improved quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

See brief summary

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
19

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Netherlands
      • Groningen, Netherlands, 9713GZ
        • University Medical Center Groningen
      • Rotterdam, Netherlands
        • Erasmus Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥ 18 years, eligible for surgery
  2. Bethesda VI fine needle aspiration (FNA) thyroid or FNA proven PTC metastasis (primary or recurrence).
  3. Scheduled to undergo central and/or lateral lymph node dissection with or without thyroidectomy as discussed in the Multi-Disciplinary Thyroid Board.
  4. WHO performance score of 0-2.
  5. Written informed consent.
  6. Mentally competent person who is able and willing to comply with study procedures.

  7. For female subjects who are of childbearing potential are premenopausal with intact reproductive organs or are less than two years post-menopausal:

    • A negative serum pregnancy test prior to receiving the tracer
    • Willing to ensure that she or her partner uses effective contraception during the trial and for 3 months thereafter.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pregnancy or breast feeding
  2. Advanced stage thyroid cancer not suitable for surgical resection
  3. Medical or psychiatric conditions that compromise the patient's ability to give informed consent
  4. Concurrent anticancer therapy (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, vaccines, immunotherapy) delivered within the last three months prior to the start of the treatment
  5. The subject has been included previously in this study or has been injected with another investigational medicinal product within the past six months
  6. History of myocardial infarction (MI), TIA, CVA, pulmonary embolism, uncontrolled congestive heart failure (CHF), significant liver disease, unstable angina within 6 months prior to enrollment
  7. Any significant change in their regular prescription or non-prescription medication between 14 days and 1 day prior to IMP administration.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: EMI-137 0.09mg/kg administration

Three patients will be once administered with EMI-137 0.09 mg/kg. Thereafter the patient will be observed for an hour. Two hours after injection surgery will be performed and only ex-vivo imaging and spectroscopy will be performed of thyroid glands and lymph nodes with a multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system and spectroscopy system.

After interim analysis will be decided if this dosage group has an adequate tumor-to-background ratio and dose extension will be performed.
Drug: IV adminstration of EMI-137
Intravenous administration of the fluorescent tracer EMI-137 approximately two hours before incision. Thereafter will be an observational period of an hour.
Other Names:
  • IMP administration
Device: Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging
A multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging (MFRI) of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.
Other Names:
  • MFRI
Device: Spectroscopy
A spectroscopy system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo spectroscopy of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.
Experimental: EMI-137 0.13mg/kg administration

Three patients will be once administered with EMI-137 0.13 mg/kg. Thereafter the patient will be observed for an hour. Two hours after injection surgery will be performed and only ex-vivo imaging and spectroscopy will be performed of thyroid glands and lymph nodes with a multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system and spectroscopy system.

After interim analysis will be decided if this dosage group has an adequate tumor-to-background ratio and dose extension will be performed.
Drug: IV adminstration of EMI-137
Intravenous administration of the fluorescent tracer EMI-137 approximately two hours before incision. Thereafter will be an observational period of an hour.
Other Names:
  • IMP administration
Device: Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging
A multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging (MFRI) of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.
Other Names:
  • MFRI
Device: Spectroscopy
A spectroscopy system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo spectroscopy of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.
Experimental: EMI-137 0.18mg/kg administration

Three patients will be once administered with EMI-137 0.18 mg/kg. Thereafter the patient will be observed for an hour. Two hours after injection surgery will be performed and only ex-vivo imaging and spectroscopy will be performed of thyroid glands and lymph nodes with a multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system and spectroscopy system.

After interim analysis will be decided if this dosage group has an adequate tumor-to-background ratio and dose extension will be performed.
Drug: IV adminstration of EMI-137
Intravenous administration of the fluorescent tracer EMI-137 approximately two hours before incision. Thereafter will be an observational period of an hour.
Other Names:
  • IMP administration
Device: Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging
A multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging (MFRI) of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.
Other Names:
  • MFRI
Device: Spectroscopy
A spectroscopy system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo spectroscopy of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.
Experimental: EMI-137 0.045mg/kg administration

If we have a excellent tumor to background ratio ((tumor fluorescence)/(surrounding tissue fluorescence)) in the 0.09 mg/kg group, we will de-escalate back to a 0.045 mg/kg group to evaluate TBR and reduce possible tracer toxicity in a thyroid cancer population with 90% 20 year survival.

Three patients will be once administered with EMI-137 0.045 mg/kg. Thereafter the patient will be observed for an hour. Two hours after injection surgery will be performed and only ex-vivo imaging and spectroscopy will be performed of thyroid glands and lymph nodes with a multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system and spectroscopy system.

After interim analysis will be decided if this dosage group has an adequate tumor-to-background ratio and dose extension will be performed.
Drug: IV adminstration of EMI-137
Intravenous administration of the fluorescent tracer EMI-137 approximately two hours before incision. Thereafter will be an observational period of an hour.
Other Names:
  • IMP administration
Device: Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging
A multispectral Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) camera system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo Multispectral Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging (MFRI) of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.
Other Names:
  • MFRI
Device: Spectroscopy
A spectroscopy system sensitive for EMI-137 fluorescence will be used for only ex-vivo spectroscopy of the thyroid gland and/or lymph node compartment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The feasibility of Molecular Fluorescence Guided Surgery using EMI-137
Time Frame: From tracer administration until after data analyses which will take up to 1.5year
To determine the optimal dose of the c-Met targeting NIRF tracer EMI-137 for an adequate TBR in PTC lymph nodes metastases using 3, and possibly 4, different dosages op EMI-137.
From tracer administration until after data analyses which will take up to 1.5year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Safety of using EMI-137 through monitoring vital signs
Time Frame: 1 day
To evaluate the safety of EMI-137 through monitoring vital signs for evaluating possible (severe) adverse events.
1 day
Safety of using EMI-137 through monitoring injection site
Time Frame: 1 day
To evaluate the safety of EMI-137 through monitoring the injection site for evaluating possible (severe) adverse events.
1 day
Feasibility of MFGS for detecting nodal metastasis
Time Frame: Up to one year
To evaluate the feasibility of MFGS for the assessment of PTC and nodal metastasis by calculating target-to-background ratio.
Up to one year
Feasibility of spectroscopy for detecting fluorescence of PTC and lymph nodes
Time Frame: Up to one year
To determine the feasibility of ex vivo spectroscopy measurements of PTC and lymph nodes for quantification of the fluorescence signal of EMI-137
Up to one year
Validation of flourescence
Time Frame: Up to one year
To correlate and validate fluorescence signals detected ex vivo with histopathology and immunohistochemistry by determining if high flourescence areas show tumorcells in pathological examination.
Up to one year
Distribution of EMI-137
Time Frame: Up to 1.5 year
To evaluate the distribution of EMI-137 on a microscopic level using fluorescence microscopy.
Up to 1.5 year
Sensitivity and specificity of EMI-137
Time Frame: Up to 1.5 year
To quantify sensitivity and specificity of EMI-137 for PTC and nodal metastasis in order to make a power size calculation for a possible subsequent diagnostic accuracy study.
Up to 1.5 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Medical Center Groningen

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Erasmus Medical Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Schelto Kruijfff, MD, PhD, University Medical Center Groningen
  • Principal Investigator: Gooitzen M van Dam, MD, PhD, University Medical Center Groningen

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 20, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 21, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 12, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 19, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 16, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 14, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NL62817.042.17

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Clinical Trials on IV adminstration of EMI-137

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings