A Pilot Study of 18F FLT PET/CT in Evaluating Early Response to Anti-Proliferative Therapies in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer and Thymic Tumors

Background:

• Imaging studies like positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans are used to detect tumor responses to cancer treatment. However, it may be difficult to detect early response to lung cancer or thymoma treatment with standard PET/CT scans. These scans cannot easily show a difference between remaining cancer cells and inflammation. Researchers want to try a new PET/CT scan tracer that may be able to show the difference between these cells. 18F-Fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) is better at showing which cells are still actively dividing. PET/CT scans with 18F-FLT may help show if tumor cells are responding to early stages of treatment.

Objectives:

• To see if 18F-FLT is a safe and effective imaging study tracer to show early cancer response to treatment.

Eligibility:

• Individuals at least 18 years of age who are being treated for lung cancer or thymoma.

Design:

• Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood, urine, and tumor tissue samples will be collected.
• Participants will have two PET/CT scans on separate days before starting chemotherapy. One scan will be with a standard radiotracer. The other will be with the 18F-FLT tracer.
• About 2 weeks after starting chemotherapy, participants will repeat the two PET/CT scans on separate days. Additional blood samples will be collected at this time.