Current Research
Ongoing funded grants
Hubert H. Chuang, M.D., Ph.D.
Role: Collaborator
Title: A Phase II Study of Ibrutinib
Goal: To evaluate the response rate of ibrutinib plus rituximab in patients with relapsed and/or refractory MCL.
Homer A. Macapinlac, M.D.
Role: Co-Investigator
Title: Evaluation of Interim FLT-PET/CT for Early Prediction of Outcome of Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Treated with R-CHOP
Goal: To demonstrate of superiority of FLT-PET/CT over FDG-PET/CT, which is expected to lead to greater confidence in using interim PET in patient management.
Role: Co-Investigator
Title: Tumor mutation status will predict metabolic response to metformin in NSCLC.
Goal: To predict metabolic response to metformin in NSCLC.
Role: Co-Investigator
Title: Southwest Early Clinical Trials Consortium
Goal: To strategically and geographically collaborate on and execute phase I clinical trials in the NCI Experimental Therapeutics-Clinical Trials Network in broad patient populations, including several underserved regions.
Role: Collaborator
Title: Program Project 2: Molecular Imaging of EGFR Expression and Activity in Targeted Therapy of Lung Cancer
Goal: To develop molecular imaging techniques to identify and quantify EGFR expression and activity in lung cancer.
Role: Primary Investigator
Title: Multi-Modal Reconstruction and Quantitative SPECT Imaging
Goal: To evaluate the feasibility of applying the novel multimodal reconstruction technique for SPECT/CT imaging in oncology patients.
Related Departments & Divisions
Nuclear Medicine Highlights
Whole Body PET MIP Images
Figure 1, top row: whole body PET maximal intensity projection (MIP) images; lower rows: transaxial PET/CT fusion images of the neck)
Baseline: FDG PET and PET/CT shows intense FDG uptake (SUVmax=16.8) in an enlarged right cervical lymph node (arrow).
B: Interim FDG PET and PET/CT shows volume reduction of the lymph node (arrow) but SUVmax increased (SUVmax=21.5).
C: Interim FLT PET and PET/CT shows visually positive uptake in this lymph node (arrow). This was confirmed as residual lymphoma.
Baseline FDG PET MIP images
Figure 2
Baseline FDG PET MIP image showing intense FDG uptake in a bulky mass within the left pelvis (arrow).
B: Interim FDG PET MIP image demonstrating significantly decreased activity but remained positive (arrow).
C: Interim FLT PET, shows photopenic tracer uptake in this lesion, reported as negative for disease.
D: End-of-treatment FDG PET MIP image shows significant reduction in FDG activity and classified as complete response based on both imaging and clinical outcome, confirming FLT PET/CT result.
FDG PET/CT Images
Figure 3
Baseline FDG PET/CT (upper panel: transaxial PET/CT fusion image of the pelvis, lower panel: transaxial PET image) showing intense FDG activity at the left ilium (arrow).
B: Interim FDG PET/CT (upper panel: transaxial PET/CT fusion image of the pelvis, lower panel: transaxial PET image) demonstrates complete response at the lesion site.
C: Interim FLT PET/CT (upper panel: transaxial PET/CT fusion image of the pelvis, lower panel: transaxial PET image) shows absence of tracer uptake within the osseous lesion. Clinical outcome confirmed this case as complete response.