New Clinical Study for Prostate Cancer Patients Available at Fox Chase Cancer Center

PHILADELPHIA (April 10, 2017) — A new clinical study is available for prostate cancer patients who are concerned about recurrence. The study is using a new imaging agent, fluorine-18-labeled synthetic amino acid for PET scans, which uses a radioactive drug to reveal how tissue and organs are functioning. In men with suspected prostate cancer recurrence due to an elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen) level, this drug uses the elevated levels of amino acids in cancer cells to help identify the location of a cancer recurrence. In the study, researchers are examining whether this more targeted imaging can lead to changed or better treatment plans for patients.

“It’s the best scan we can do at the moment for prostate cancer patients,” said Jian Q. (Michael) Yu, MD, director of nuclear medicine at Fox Chase. “This is more sensitive and more specific than what we have now and has FDA approval since last summer.”

Fox Chase is one of just 17 institutions across the country to offer this type of scan as research, and it’s now available as clinical service in the PET center.  Please contact 215-214-4210 for details.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States, and about 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Between 20 and 30 percent of treated men will experience a recurrence. 

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

For more information, call 888-369-2427

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