DiscoPET: Multiplexed total-body PET to define cancer immunometabotypes
Supervisors
Prof David Lewis, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow
Dr Stephen Paisey, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow
Dr Catriona Wimberley, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
Summary
PET imaging can measure multiple aspects of tumour biology, ranging from energy metabolism pathways, targeted with 18F and 11C labelled small molecules, to surface markers/immune activation, targeted with 89Zr labelled biologics. However, conventional PET typically uses a single PET tracer to interrogate one biological process at a time. This PhD will develop a new generation of multiplexed PET, combining complementary radiotracers to build a multidimensional picture of tumour metabolism and immune biology in individual subjects. The project will exploit the exceptional sensitivity and dynamic whole-body imaging capability of the MRC/NPIP Scotland Total-Body PET Facility. Using tracers with distinct radioactive half-lives and kinetics, the student will investigate how multiple biological signals can be resolved within a coordinated imaging protocol. Building on existing dual-tracer data combining a zirconium-labelled tracer with [18F]FDG, the project will develop and validate quantitative approaches for triple-tracer imaging, integrating dynamic PET, kinetic modelling and computational signal separation to define cancer immunometabotypes. The long-term goal is to move beyond one-dimensional imaging biomarkers towards an in-vivo molecular phenotype that captures tumour metabolism, immune biology and heterogeneity across the whole body. These imaging signatures could provide new approaches for patient stratification and for selecting and monitoring targeted or immune-based therapies.
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