# Development and Translation of D-glucose as a Diagnostic Agent for MRI of Cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · HUGO W. MOSER RES INST KENNEDY KRIEGER · 2024 · $622,185

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Annually, about 50,000,000 doses of synthetic gadolinium imaging contrast agents are injected into
patients worldwide when getting an MRI. While these agents are extremely safe, they have the potential for
adverse effects in some patients. Also, they may accumulate in brain and bone tissues when a procedure is
repeated, with yet unknown risks. Currently, all MRI agents require some kind of chemical labeling, i.e. with
para- or ferro-magnetic metals or, recently, with hyperpolarized magnetic isotopes. The overall goal of this
BRG is the development of simple D-glucose as an MRI contrast agent. Advantages of using such a natural
agent are safety, absence of interference with contrast on standard anatomical images, low cost, and the
ability to perform repeated studies over a short period of time. We will first develop this technology for brain
cancer, after which it can be adjusted for general use. Contrast agents are used to visualize tumor anatomy
and physiology, which can provide information on malignancy and the response to treatment. Our hypothesis is
that D-glucose as an infusible MRI contrast agent can provide information on three important aspects of tumor
physiology, namely delivery, uptake (including effects of blood brain barrier disruption), and metabolism. If our
developments are successful, translation to clinical application will be fast since D-glucose is already widely
used for other indications (e.g. glucose tolerance test for diabetes), and its safety profile is well established.
 Our preliminary data show MRI detectability of D-glucose at millimolar concentrations in animal models at
11.7T and in brain tumor patients at 7T and 3T. However, there are technical issues at 3T due to the reduced
effect size, requiring additional technology development for motion correction, data acquisition, and analysis.
Our overall development goal for this BRG is to optimize and standardize the use of D-glucose as an infusible
contrast agent for diagnostic and prognostic imaging of tumor physiology at the clinical field strength of 3T. The
specific aims are (1) Design and optimize fast whole-brain dynamic MRI saturation pulse sequence technology
to detect D-glucose based (a) T2 relaxation effects, (b) combined chemical exchange saturation transfer
(CEST) and T2 relaxation effects; (2) Design and optimize CEST-MRI-compatible motion correction methods
for dynamic scanning including navigator echo guidance and deep learning analysis; (3) Design and optimize
semi-quantitative and quantitative data analysis approaches for visualizing tumor enhancement and obtaining
indicators of tumor D-glucose delivery, uptake, and metabolism; (4) Standardize the methods of aims 1-3 and
demonstrate repeatability and reproducibility to conclude the work with a clinical MRI protocol for dynamic
glucose-enhanced (DGE) MRI. To accomplish these aims with optimal efficiency, proper validation and clinical
relevance, we have established a multidiscip...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10878944
- **Project number:** 5R01EB034978-02
- **Recipient organization:** HUGO W. MOSER RES INST KENNEDY KRIEGER
- **Principal Investigator:** Linda Knutsson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $622,185
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10878944

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10878944, Development and Translation of D-glucose as a Diagnostic Agent for MRI of Cancer (5R01EB034978-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10878944. Licensed CC0.

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