An Investigational Scan (18F-DOPA PET/CT) for Improving the Clinical Management of Brain Tumors

A Centralized Protocol Evaluating the Safety and Clinical Impact of Amino Acid Pet for Brain Tumors

This phase II trial studies how well the addition of 18F-DOPA (amino acid) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) to standard of care (SOC) imaging can improve the clinical management of patients with brain tumors in over 50% of cases. PET is an imaging test that helps to measure the information about functions of tissues and organs within the body. A PET scan uses a radioactive drug (radiotracer) to show this activity. CT scan uses X-rays to create images of the bones and internal organs within the body. Combining a PET scan with a CT scan can help make the images easier to interpret. PET/CT scans are hybrid scanners that combine both of the two modalities into a single scan. This allows images of both anatomy (CT) and function (PET) to be taken during the same scan. The 18F-DOPA PET/CT scan is done with a very small amount of a radioactive tracer called FDOPA. The PET/CT scan is then used to detect the location of tumors. Using the 18FDOPA-PET/CT scan in addition to the SOC scan may improve the clinical management of patients with brain tumors.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Malignant Brain Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Computed Tomography; Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography; Drug: Fluorodopa F 18

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine whether the addition of amino acid PET to standard of care imaging impacts clinical management of brain tumor patients in over 50% of cases.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the safety and tolerability of amino acid PET for brain tumor patients in response to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance that such data is needed to support a potential New Drug Application (NDA) for fluorodopa F 18 (18F-DOPA).

II. To assess the rate of identification of tumor outside of standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive 18F-DOPA intravenously (IV) and undergo PET/CT over 30 minutes on day 1.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed for 3 days.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 47
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Clinical Trials Referral Office; Phone Number: 855-776-0015; Email: mayocliniccancerstudies@mayo.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
      • Recruiting
      • Mayo Clinic in Rochester
      • Contact: Clinical Trials Referral Office; Phone Number: 855-776-0015; Email: mayocliniccancerstudies@mayo.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Derek R. Johnson, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 and older
• Diagnosis of a brain tumor
• Indication for amino acid PET imaging, including presurgical evaluation, radiation planning, MR imaging indeterminate for progression versus treatment effect, or clinical need for enhanced monitoring
• Ability to give appropriate consent or have an appropriate representative available to do so

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient is unable to undergo PET imaging
• Persons who are pregnant or nursing

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Diagnostic (18F-DOPA); Patients receive 18F-DOPA IV and undergo PET/CT over 30 minutes on day 1.

Procedure: Computed Tomography; Undergo PET/CT; Other Names: CT; CAT; CAT Scan; Computed Axial Tomography; Computerized Axial Tomography; Computerized Tomography; CT Scan; tomography; Computerized axial tomography (procedure); Computerized Tomography (CT) scan; Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography; Undergo PET/CT; Other Names: Medical Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography; PET; PET Scan; Positron Emission Tomography Scan; Positron-Emission Tomography; proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging; PT; Positron emission tomography (procedure); Drug: Fluorodopa F 18; Given IV; Other Names: (18F)FDOPA; 18F-DOPA; 18F-FDOPA; 3-(2-Fluoro-(sup 18)F-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine; 6-(18F)Fluoro-L-DOPA; Fluorine F 18 Fluorodopa; Fluorine-18-fluoro-L-DOPA; Fluorodopa (18F); FLUORODOPA F-18; L-6-(18F)Fluoro-DOPA

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Impact of 18F-DOPA PET/CT on clinical management	Will be measured using the Amino Acid PET Imaging Survey, to be completed by the provider after participant has received fluorodopa F 18 (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). The survey consists of 4 questions, 1 multiple choice (what will PET scan be used for); 2 yes/no and one open-ended question related with how PET scan did or did not make a clinically meaningful impact in the management of patient care.	3 days post-PET scan, up to 64 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of adverse events	Will be assessed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0.	3 days post-PET scan, up to 64 days
Rate of identification of tumor outside of standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)	Will be measured using the Amino Acid PET Imaging Survey, to be completed by the provider after participant has received fluorodopa F 18 (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). The survey consists of 4 questions, 1 multiple choice (what will PET scan be used for); 2 yes/no (including whether a tumor outside of MRI contrast enhancement was identified); and one open-ended question related with how PET scan did or did not make a clinically meaningful impact in the management of patient care.	3 days post-PET scan, up to 64 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mayo Clinic
• Collaborators: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Derek R. Johnson, MD, Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Mayo Clinic Clinical Trials

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 24, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 30, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 30, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 31, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 28, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Nervous System Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Brain Neoplasms; Investigative Techniques; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Spectrum Analysis; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; fluorodopa F 18
• Other Study ID Numbers: MC250717 (Mayo Clinic); R01FD007842 (U.S. FDA Grant/Contract); 24-000426 (Other Identifier: Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No