# Project 2: Monitoring metabolism in GBM using hyperpolarized C-13 imaging and H-1 MRSI

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $353,057

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT 
The objective of this project is to combine hyperpolarized C-13 imaging and H-1 MR spectroscopic imaging 
(MRSI) data in order to detect differences in dynamic and steady state metabolism that can be used to improve 
the evaluation of patients with glioblastoma (GBM). This is an important clinical problem because conventional 
anatomic imaging can provide ambiguous results that make it difficult to decide whether patients have responded 
to therapy or show signs of disease progression. While current H-1 MRSI methods give robust measures of the 
spatial extent of abnormal metabolism through values of the choline to N-acetylaspartate index (CNI), additional 
parameters are required to improve the specificity for distinguishing recurrent tumor from treatment related 
effects and to detect rapid changes that occur following treatment. Hyperpolarized C-13 pyruvate imaging is a 
new MR imaging method that provides information about dynamic changes in metabolism and has provided 
promising results in pre-clinical and patient studies of GBM. Understanding how the dynamic data obtained using 
hyperpolarized C13 pyruvate imaging can be combined with the more established steady state H-1 MRSI 
parameters and conventional anatomic imaging is critical for determining how to utilize the results obtained for 
making decisions about patient care. Specific Aim 1 will apply these two metabolic imaging strategies to patients 
with newly diagnosed GBM at the pre-RT and the first post-RT follow-up scan. Rates of conversion of pyruvate 
to lactate and bicarbonate will be evaluated in normal appearing brain, the anatomic lesion and the CNI lesion 
in order to determine whether they will improve the definition of residual tumor. Specific Aim 2 will use metabolic 
imaging to target locations for tissue sampling in patients undergoing surgery for suspected recurrence. The goal 
will be to validate H-1 and C-13 parameters as markers of recurrent tumor vs treatment related effects. Specific 
Aim 3 will obtain metabolic imaging from patients who are suspected to have recurrent GBM and are being 
treated with standard of care therapies. The hypothesis being tested is that lactate/pyruvate will be decreased 
at the 7-day scan, and the choline to N-acetylaspartate index (CNI) will be decreased at the 6-8 week scan 
relative to the pre-treatment scan. This will be critical for determining whether these metabolic markers can be 
used as early indicators of response to therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999430
- **Project number:** 5P50CA097257-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Janine Marie Lupo
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $353,057
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-09-20 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999430

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999430, Project 2: Monitoring metabolism in GBM using hyperpolarized C-13 imaging and H-1 MRSI (5P50CA097257-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999430. Licensed CC0.

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