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CXCR4NCT05255926

CXCR4-targeted PET/CT Imaging in Hematological Malignancies

A study testing 68Ga-pentixafor and PET/CT in people with CXCR4 and PET/CT, run by Zhongnan Hospital at 1 site in China.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Hematological malignancies continue to pose significant clinical challenges due to their high incidence, heterogeneous biology, and substantial mortality. Although 18F-FDG PET/CT remains the most commonly used molecular imaging modality, its limited specificity can result in false-positive or false-negative findings… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 90 years
Conditions the study is for
CXCR4, PET/CT, Hematological Malignancy
What is being tested?
68Ga-pentixafor and PET/CT
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
300 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Mar 2022to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 90 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Volunteer to participate and sign an informed consent form;
  • 18 ≤ Age ≤ 90 years;
  • Patients with highly suspected, or newly diagnosed, or relapsed hematological malignancies;
  • Willing and able to follow schedule visits, treatment plans and laboratory tests.

Who cannot join

  • pregnancy or breastfeeding;
  • Allergic to CXCR4-targeted tracers or excipients;
  • Fasting blood glucose level exceeded 11.0 mmol/L prior to injection of 18F-FDG;
  • Those who cannot complete PET/CT scan, including inability to keep supine, claustrophobia, radiation phobia, etc.;
  • Researchers think it is inappropriate to participate in this clinical trial for patients with poor compliance or other unsuitable factors.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Yong He, MD, PhD contact

+86-27-67812698

vincentheyong@163.com

China1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430071

    Lei Zheng, +86-27-67812787

    Yong He, MD, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: An Exploratory, Open-Label, Single Center Study of CXCR4-targeted PET/CT Imaging for Evaluation of Hematological Malignancies

Hematological malignancies continue to pose significant clinical challenges due to their high incidence, heterogeneous biology, and substantial mortality. Although 18F-FDG PET/CT remains the most commonly used molecular imaging modality, its limited specificity can result in false-positive or false-negative findings, especially in indolent or low-metabolism subtypes, thereby hampering accurate diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic evaluation. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is frequently overexpressed in a broad spectrum of hematologic malignancies and correlates with aggressive disease and unfavorable outcomes. CXCR4-targeted molecular imaging using ^68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT has shown promise for improved disease characterization. This prospective study aims to systematically compare 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT with 18F-FDG PET/CT in terms of diagnostic performance, staging accuracy, risk stratification, and prognostic relevance in patients with hematological malignancies. Furthermore, the study will incorporate artificial intelligence-based image analysis to enhance lesion detection, automate quantitative assessments, and support personalized clinical decision-making.

Read the detailed description

Hematological malignancies encompass a heterogeneous group of neoplasms originating from the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, the prognosis for many subtypes remains suboptimal, and accurate initial evaluation is critical for appropriate treatment planning. ^18F-FDG PET/CT is routinely used for functional imaging in these patients; however, its diagnostic utility is limited by variable glucose metabolism across disease subtypes and inflammatory uptake, which can lead to misclassification.

CXCR4, a chemokine receptor involved in tumor proliferation, invasion, and microenvironmental interactions, is overexpressed in numerous hematologic malignancies and has emerged as a molecular target for both imaging and therapy. 68Ga-pentixafor, a CXCR4-targeted PET radiotracer, has demonstrated superior lesion detection in preliminary studies, particularly in diseases with low 18F-FDG avidity.

This prospective study will investigate the clinical utility of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT in patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed hematological malignancies. Comparative analyses with 18F-FDG PET/CT will be performed to assess concordance, staging accuracy, and association with known risk stratification systems. Longitudinal follow-up will be conducted to evaluate the prognostic relevance of imaging findings.

In parallel, the study will explore the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, including deep learning-based image segmentation and radiomic feature extraction, to enhance diagnostic precision and support risk-adapted management strategies. AI-driven models will be developed and validated to predict disease burden, progression, and survival, thereby contributing to personalized medicine in hematologic oncology.

Being tested
68Ga-pentixafor, PET/CT
Medical subject headings
Hematologic Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • 68Ga-pentixaforDrug

    All participants undergo intravenous administration of 68Ga-pentixafor (1.85-3.71 MBq/kg body weight).

  • PET/CTDevice

    Also called Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography

    PET/CT imaging is performed 1 h after intravenous injection of 68Ga-pentixafor.

Study groups in NCT05255926
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
68Ga-pentixafor and 18F-FDG PET/CTExperimentalPatients with a high clinical suspicion of, or confirmed newly diagnosed or relapsed hematological malignancies will be recruited. All enrolled patients will undergo both 68Ga-pentixafor and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging within two weeks.
Receives: Drug: 68Ga-pentixafor; Device: PET/CT

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Diagnostic Accuracy of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT Compared to 18F-FDG PET/CT in Hematological Malignancies

    To assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with newly diagnosed, relapsed, or highly suspected hematological malignancies. Accuracy will be evaluated using a composite reference standard, including histopathological confirmation, clinical follow-up, and additional imaging findings.

    Measured: Two years

  2. Concordance of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT with Standard Clinical Staging Systems

    To evaluate the concordance between [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT-based staging and conventional clinical staging systems (e.g., Ann Arbor, Durie-Salmon PLUS, R-ISS/R2-ISS) in patients with hematological malignancies. Concordance will be measured using Cohen's kappa statistic (κ).

    Measured: Two years

  3. Predictive Value of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT Parameters for Progression-Free Survival

    To assess whether imaging biomarkers from [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT, such as SUVmax or total lesion CXCR4 uptake, predict progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with hematological malignancies. Comparison will be made with [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT-derived parameters.

    Measured: Four years

  4. Predictive Value of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT Parameters for Overall Survival

    To evaluate whether [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT-based biomarkers can predict overall survival in patients with hematological malignancies, compared with [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT.

    Measured: Four years

  5. Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) for AI-based lesion segmentation

    Evaluation of the overlap between artificial intelligence-generated lesion segmentations and expert manual annotations on PET/CT images using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC).

    Measured: Two years

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Correlation Between CXCR4 Expression and [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT Parameters

    To assess the correlation between CXCR4 expression levels in biopsy samples and semiquantitative parameters from [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT (e.g., SUVmax).

    Measured: Two years

  2. Correlation between del(17p) status and TLU on [68Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT

    To assess the correlation between the presence or absence of del(17p), as identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and total lesion uptake (TLU) on [68Ga]Ga-pentixafor PET/CT at baseline. The degree of correlation will be measured using the Spearman correlation coefficient (rho), a unitless value ranging from -1 to +1.

    Measured: Two years

  3. Radiogenomic Model for Risk Prediction Using AI

    To develop and validate an AI-based radiogenomic model integrating PET imaging features and genomic data to predict disease aggressiveness in patients with hematological malignancies.

    Measured: Two years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Feb 2022
  2. Study start1 Mar 2022
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
300 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05255926
Sponsor's protocol ID
ZNYYHYXK0002
Status last verified
Jun 2025
First submitted
26 Jan 2022
Last updated
26 Jun 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Herrmann K, Lapa C, Wester HJ, Schottelius M, Schiepers C, Eberlein U, Bluemel C, Keller U, Knop S, Kropf S, Schirbel A, Buck AK, Lassmann M. Biodistribution and radiation dosimetry for the chemokine receptor CXCR4-targeting probe 68Ga-pentixafor. J Nucl Med. 2015 Mar;56(3):410-6. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.114.151647. Epub 2015 Feb 19.

    PubMed 25698782
  • Pan Q, Cao X, Luo Y, Li J, Feng J, Li F. Chemokine receptor-4 targeted PET/CT with 68Ga-Pentixafor in assessment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: comparison to 18F-FDG PET/CT. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2020 Mar;47(3):537-546. doi: 10.1007/s00259-019-04605-z. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

    PubMed 31776631
  • Duell J, Krummenast F, Schirbel A, Klassen P, Samnick S, Rauert-Wunderlich H, Rasche L, Buck AK, Wester HJ, Rosenwald A, Einsele H, Topp MS, Lapa C, Kircher M. Improved Primary Staging of Marginal-Zone Lymphoma by Addition of CXCR4-Directed PET/CT. J Nucl Med. 2021 Oct;62(10):1415-1421. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.120.257279. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

    PubMed 33579803
  • Chen J, Tang S, Liu L, Tian Y, Wang Y, Xiao Z, Xing D, Zhou F, Li C, He Y. [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for Durie-Salmon PLUS staging and risk stratification in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2026 Jun;53(7):4572-4586. doi: 10.1007/s00259-026-07813-6. Epub 2026 Feb 28.

    PubMed 41760826

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing 68Ga-pentixafor and PET/CT in people with CXCR4 and PET/CT, run by Zhongnan Hospital at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Yong He, MD, PhD (+86-27-67812698, vincentheyong@163.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Diagnostic Accuracy of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT Compared to 18F-FDG PET/CT in Hematological Malignancies (time frame: Two years). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05255926, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Jun 2025.

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