Study of PET Imaging With 18F-TFB in Patients With Thyroid Cancer

PET Imaging of Thyroid Tissue Expressing Sodium-iodine Symporter Using the New Tracer 18F-tetrafluoroborate (18F-TFB)

The goal of the study is to evaluate a new imaging test that may allows the investigators to predict the uptake of radioactive iodine by thyroid cancer faster than the current standard and that does not interfere with the uptake of radioactive iodine used for therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed thyroid carcinoma of follicular origin (including papillary and its respective variants).

• Patients should have tumors that are radiographically evident on PET, ultrasound, CT or MRI

• Age ≥ 18 years.

• ECOG performance status ≤ 2 (or Karnofsky ≥60%).

• Patients must have normal organ and bone marrow function as defined below:

  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1.5x10^9/L
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
  • Platelets ≥ 100 x 10^9/L
  • Albumin ≥ 2.5 g/dL
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5x institutional ULN
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2x institutional ULN unless it is related to the primary disease
  • Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR calculated creatinine clearance (Cockcroft-Gault formula) ≥ 50 mL/min OR 24-hour urine creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min

• Negative pregnancy test within 7 days prior to starting the study in premenopausal women. Women of non-childbearing potential may be included without pregnancy test if they are either surgically sterile or have been postmenopausal for ≥ 1 year.

• Fertile men and women must use an effective method of contraception during treatment and for at least 6 months after completion of treatment as directed by their physician. Effective methods of contraception are defined as those, which result in a low failure rate (i.e., less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly (for example implants, injectables, combined oral contraception or intra-uterine devices). At the discretion of the Investigator, acceptable methods of contraception may include total abstinence in cases where the lifestyle of the patient ensures compliance. (Periodic abstinence [e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, postovulation methods] and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.)

• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• Pregnant, lactating, or breast feeding women.
• Patients unable to follow a low iodine diet or requiring medication with high content in iodide (amiodarone).
• Patients who received iodinated intravenous contrast as part of a radiographic procedure within 3 months of study registration. Those that have had iodinated intravenous contrast for CT imaging within this time frame may still be eligible if a urinary iodine analysis reveals that the excess iodine has been adequately cleared after the last intravenous contrast administration.
• Unwillingness or inability to comply with study procedures.