A new study conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN®) and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) is now underway to evaluate the ability of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT) and MRI with the contrast agent Combidex (ferumoxtran-10) to identify pelvic and abdominal lymph node metastases in patients with locoregionally advanced cervical cancer.

According to study investigators, FDG-PET/CT and Combidex MRI offer promise for finding cancers that may presently go undiagnosed. "Currently, we try to diagnose lymph node metastases by size. This method has low specificity and low sensitivity," said ACRIN principal investigator for the trial, Mostafa Atri, M.D., of the University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital at the University of Toronto, Canada. "MRI with Combidex works differently. The contrast agent is absorbed by normal nodes, but not by the component of lymph node infiltrated by cancer. We see the cancer as defects in the lymph node. For PET, metastases appear as increased activity."

Approximately 10 ACRIN-approved sites will work in collaboration with a GOG member institution to accrue 325 participants within three years. All participants will undergo lymph node sampling to determine the accuracy of the imaging exams. Michael Gold, M.D., of the University of Oklahoma, is the GOG study chair.
"Both imaging modalities can also be used with other cancers. Knowing the involvement of lymph nodes is important for the treatment of all cancer patients. If this study shows these modalities work for cervical cancer in a multicenter trial, it could lead to future research that would benefit many different cancer patients," said Atri.

Please visit www.acrin.org/6671_protocol.html for more information on this trial.

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