DLL3-Targeted PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

March 4, 2026 updated by: The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University

Delta-like Protein 3 (DLL3)- Targeted PET Imaging in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

The objective of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of DLL3-targeted PET/CT in patients with suspected or histologically confirmed neuroendocrine carcinoma, and to compare with conventional imaging modalities.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is designed to investigate DLL3-targeted PET/CT as a noninvasive approach for detecting tumor lesions in patients with suspected or confirmed neuroendocrine carcinoma.

In this research, patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma or highly suspected recurrence detection underwent contemporaneous DLL3-targeted PET/CT and conventional imaging (such as CT, MRI or 18F-FDG) either for an initial assessment or for metastases or highly suspected recurrence detection. Tumor uptake was quantified by the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). By correlating immunohistochemistry with tumor uptake of the DLL3-targeted tracer, the investigators will explore the feasibility of visualizing tumor DLL3 expression using DLL3-targeted PET. The numbers of positive tumor lesions of conventional imaging and DLL3-targeted PET/CT were recorded by visual interpretation. The diagnostic accuracy of DLL3-targeted was calculated and compared to conventional imaging. Intertumoral heterogeneity was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV) of SUVmax across all lesions within each patient.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Fujian
      • Xiamen, Fujian, China, 361000
        • Recruiting
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients (aged 18 years or older);
  • Patients with suspected, newly diagnosed, and previously treated neuroendocrine carcinoma(supporting evidence may include imaging findings and pathology report);
  • Serum ProGRP or NSE level ≥ 3 times the upper limit of normal;
  • Patients who were able to provide informed consent (signed by participant, parent or legal representative) and assent according to the guidelines of the Clinical Research Ethics Committee.
  • Estimated life expectancy of more than 3 months, as assessed by the investigator, and ability to comply with study procedures and scheduled visits;

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The inability or unwillingness of the research participant or legal representative to provide written informed consent.
  • Inability to complete PET/CT imaging.

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: DLL3-targeted PET/CT
Each subject receives a single intravenous injection of DLL3-targeted probe and undergoes PET/CT imaging within the specified time.
Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Test: conventional imaging (CT, MRI or 18F-FDG PET/CT), DLL3-targeted PET/CT
Participants will undergo DLL3-Targeted PET/CT imaging for the evaluation of tumor lesions. Imaging findings will be compared with conventional imaging modalities as part of the study analysis.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in vital signs after administration of the DLL3-targeted tracer
Time Frame: 1 day
Vital signs will be monitored before and after administration of the DLL3-targeted tracer, including body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Units of Measure: Body temperature (°C); Pulse rate (beats/min); Respiratory rate (breaths/min); Blood pressure (mmHg).
1 day
Radiation absorbed dose of the DLL3-targeted PET tracer in normal organs and whole body
Time Frame: 1 year
Radiation dosimetry will be calculated using serial whole-body PET/CT imaging after administration of the DLL3-targeted tracer. Time-activity curves will be generated for major organs, and absorbed doses will be estimated using standard internal dosimetry software (e.g., OLINDA/EXM). Unit of Measure: Absorbed radiation dose (mGy/MBq).
1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Correlation between tumor DLL3 expression assessed by immunohistochemistry (H-score) and tumor uptake of the DLL3-targeted PET tracer (SUVmax)
Time Frame: 1 year
Tumor DLL3 expression will be quantified using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reported as an H-score (range 0-300). Tumor uptake of the DLL3-targeted PET tracer will be measured as maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on PET/CT imaging. The correlation between DLL3 IHC H-score and PET SUVmax will be analyzed to evaluate the feasibility of noninvasively visualizing and quantifying tumor DLL3 expression using DLL3-targeted PET imaging.
1 year

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Intertumoral heterogeneity
Time Frame: 1 year
Intertumoral heterogeneity of DLL3 was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV) of SUVmax across all lesions within each patient.
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University

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)

December 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 18, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 4, 2026

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • XMYY-2025KY280

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.

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