Pilot Study of FAPI PET/CT for Locoregional (re)Staging of Lymph Nodes in Colorectal Carcinoma

Rationale: In patients with colorectal cancer the detection of small nodal metastases with standard diagnostic imaging (CT and/or MRI) is challenging. This may result in suboptimal staging and ultimately in suboptimal treatment. Colorectal cancer is typically associated with a tumour stroma containing large numbers of activated tumour-associated fibroblasts. Radiolabelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) compounds bind selectively to these fibroblasts, and thereby allow sensitive and specific imaging of tumour stroma with FAPI PET/CT. Recently published research has indicated that FAPI PET/CT can accurately detect macroscopic colorectal cancer lesions. We have recently demonstrated that tumour stroma also develops in lymph node metastases with a tumour diameter of just a millimetre. Improved detection in the primary tumour area and in regional lymph nodes provided by FAPI PET/CT may contribute to more accurate staging with potential impact on patient management e.g., selection for neoadjuvant treatment. However, until now FAPI PET/CT has mainly been used to visualise tumour in metastatic patients with various tumour types in the scope of palliative treatment, and its specific diagnostic value for detection and locoregional staging of colorectal cancer is currently unknown. We will now use FAPI PET/CT in a pilot study to explore the potential diagnostic value in the detection of regional lymph node metastases, and to identify opportunities for further prospective research in the areas of diagnostics, radiotherapy, and FAPI-based theragnostic therapy.

Objective: To describe the accuracy of FAPI PET/CT in the detection of regional lymph node metastases in patients with colorectal cancer in comparison with standard diagnostic imaging and (in operated patients) histopathology, aiming to provide early evidence of the diagnostic value of FAPI PET/CT.

Study design: Multicentre prospective cross-sectional diagnostic pilot study. Study population: The study involves 30 patients with newly detected clinically node positive colorectal cancer stratified by 20 patients with colon cancer and 10 patients with rectal cancer. All patients undergo local treatment of the primary colorectal tumour.

Intervention: Participants receive standard diagnostic imaging with contrast enhanced CT thorax-abdomen (all patients) and pelvic MRI for initial staging and restaging after neoadjuvant treatment (rectal cancer patients only). In patients with colon cancer, one FAPI PET/CT scan is added as a diagnostic intervention in the scope of this study early after standard diagnostic imaging and prior to planned surgery. In patients with rectal cancer, two FAPI PET/CT scans are added as diagnostic interventions i.e., for initial staging and restaging (pre and post neoadjuvant therapy). The FAPI PET/CT results will not guide treatment decisions.

Main study parameters: The main objective is to describe the diagnostic accuracy of FAPI PET/CT in detecting regional lymph node metastases relative to standard of care diagnostic imaging. FAPI PET/CT will be visually correlated with contrast-enhanced CT in colon cancer patients, and pelvic MRI pre- and post-neoadjuvant treatment in rectal cancer patients. Histopathology of the resected specimen will serve as reference test for operated patients. Secondary outcomes include description of additional findings on FAPI PET/CT, correlation between tumour stroma in resected lymph node metastases and tracer uptake of regional lymph nodes on FAPI PET/CT, and evaluation of response to neoadjuvant treatment on FAPI PET/CT in rectal cancer. All outcomes are descriptive and serve as pilot for a potential subsequent larger prospective diagnostic study.