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Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI for the Characterization Small Renal Masses

Award Number: R01CA252281
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/17/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI for the Characterization Small Renal Masses - Project Summary An Academic-Industrial partnership between scientists and clinicians at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center and Philips Research Hamburg and Philips North America (Philips) has been formed with the purpose of translating the novel molecular MR imaging method, Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST), into a clinical tool for the assessment of Small Renal Masses (SRMs). CEST has already demonstrated feasibility in neurooncology applications. The management of SRMs is challenging because a substantial number of them are benign or indolent malignant tumors, leading to patient exposure to unnecessary morbidity from biopsies and surgery. Non-invasive distinction between benign/indolent tumors and aggressive tumors would allow for better risk stratification and patient management. While novel, CEST has already been adopted by certain clinical centers for assessment in neuro oncology. Recently, our group demonstrated the promise of CEST to the characterization of breast lesions. Here, we propose to broaden the application of CEST to renal oncology by addressing the inherent challenges of application of CEST in the abdomen and by optimizing CEST in patients with SRMs. Our hypothesis is that technical development of CEST-MRI allows observation of aggressive tumor microenvironment in SRM. Our goal is to advance CEST methodology to become a part of comprehensive SRM evaluation protocol. The goals of the project will be achieved via the following Specific Aims: Aim 1: To develop and optimize CEST methodology for SRMs on 3T human MRI system. This is technical development Aim, where we will evaluate several approaches addressing major issues associated with translation of CEST to kidney oncology applications: (i) improved resolution and fat separation, (ii) acceleration of acquisition using pseudo-cartesian and undersampled algorithms,(iii) motion correction and (iv) advanced Z-spectrum analysis methods. Aim 2: To evaluate the optimized CEST-MRI as a predictive biomarker of SRM hystology. The Aim's focus in on the translation of the CEST technology to SRM patients: (i) evaluation of the optimized in a group of SRM patients: (ii) correlation of the CEST-MRI measurements with histopathology results and correlation of CEST-MRI with glycogen deposition.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	5	11/19/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2026	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	001	5	11/24/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $379,324 )
2025	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	5	8/1/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$379,324
														Subtotal = $379,324

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $380,460 )
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	4	4/26/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$380,460
														Subtotal = $380,460

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $462,317 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, THE	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	3	5/29/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$462,317
														Subtotal = $462,317

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $413,584 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, THE	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	2	4/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$413,584
														Subtotal = $413,584

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $447,959 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, THE	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	1	5/17/2021	NEW	$447,959
														Subtotal = $447,959

Grand Total All Awards = $2,083,644

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Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI for the Characterization Small Renal Masses

Award Number: R01CA252281

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/17/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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