
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This study is for people with cancer that has spread to liver from another part of the body. It is open to people going to the Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
Cancer can spread to other parts of the body from where it started. One place it can go is the liver. This is secondary liver cancer.
Doctors use scans such as a CT scan or an MRI scan to see if the cancer has spread to the liver.
A new way of doing an MRI scan can show what is happening in cancer cells. This is called a Hyperpolarised Carbon MRI.
Current information suggests that there is a build up of a chemical called lactate in the areas of cancer spread in the liver. And Hyperpolarised Carbon MRI shows up this build up of lactate.
In this study healthy volunteers and people with secondary liver cancer have a Hyperpolarised Carbon MRI. The study team will then compare their scans.
They hope this will help them to better understand what changes happen in the liver when cancer has spread there. And to confirm if it does cause an increase in the amount of lactate in the liver.
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
You may be able to join this study if you are going to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and all the following apply. You:
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:
The study team will have posters and leaflets throughout the hospital inviting healthy volunteers to take part as well.
This study is in 2 parts. It is a pilot study.
In the 1st part the team need between 9 and 15 healthy people to join.
In the 2nd part the team need up to 22 people with secondary liver cancer to join.
Everyone has an MRI scan and an injection of pyruvate. Pyruvate is a sugar like substance that is found naturally in the body.
You have the pyruvate as an injection into a vein through a small plastic tube (cannula).
The scan can image the pyruvate in the liver and so help the team determine how the liver processes it.
The researcher takes several small blood samples using the cannula. These are taken:
You go to the MRI Department, Addenbrooke’s Hospital for the MRI scan.
Pyruvate is a naturally occurring substance in the body and there are no known side effects.
You are monitored while having the MRI scan. You also have a squeeze ball alarm to use if you feel any discomfort during the scan.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Professor Ian Wilkinson
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
University of Cambridge
Wellcome Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”