New scan could spot childhood cancer more clearly

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Any age at diagnosis. * Patients must have a diagnosis of neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma (nodular, unfavorable subtype) verified by tumor pathology analysis or demonstration of clumps of tumor cells in bone marrow with elevated urinary catecholamine metabolites. * Patients must have high-risk neuroblastoma defined as one of the following: * Any age with International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) stage L2 or M and MYCN amplification. * Age ≥ 547 days and INRG stage M regardless of biologic features. * Age ≥ 547 days and INRG stage L2 with unfavorable histology. * Patients must have newly diagnosed disease. * Patients must have either measurable or evaluable disease by INRC. * Patients observed or treated with a single cycle of chemotherapy per a low- or intermediate-risk neuroblastoma regimen (e.g. as per ANBL0531, ANBL1232 or similar) for what initially appeared to be non-high-risk disease, but subsequently found to meet high-risk criteria will be eligible. These patients must enroll prior to the start of high-risk therapy. * Patients who receive localized emergency radiation to sites of life-threatening or function-threatening disease prior to or immediately after establishment of the definitive diagnosis will be eligible. * Patients initially recognized to have high-risk disease must enroll prior to or within the first week after starting high-risk induction chemotherapy. * Induction therapy as per a standard high-risk neuroblastoma induction regimen (examples include ANBL1531 arm A, ANBL2131 arm A, or ANBL2131 arm B) must be planned for patients to be eligible for this study. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or breast-feeding women will not be entered on this study due to risks of fetal and teratogenic adverse events of radiation. Pregnancy tests must be obtained in girls who are post-menarchal. Males or females of reproductive potential may not participate unless they have agreed to use two effective methods of birth control, including a medically accepted barrier or contraceptive method (e.g., male or female condom) at least 48 hours prior to and following all imaging studies. Abstinence is an acceptable method of birth control. * Norepinephrine transporter (NET)-dependent agents: Many medications are known to interfere with uptake of NET-dependent agents. Investigators should use caution when prescribing these medications for patients undergoing procedures on this study. Medications that are known to substantially interfere with uptake of NET-dependent agents should be held if possible, based on patient condition 24 hours prior to each 18F-MFBG scan. These agents can be resumed immediately after each 18F-MFBG scan is completed. Patients who are receiving medications that are known to significantly interfere with uptake of NET-dependent agents (primarily tricyclic antidepressants, psychostimulants, and antihypertensives) and for whom these medications cannot be safely withheld before the start of study procedures will not be eligible. * The patient has a known or suspected history of significant allergic reaction or anaphylaxis to any components of the 18F-MFBG or 123I-MIBG imaging agents. * Patients who will require sedation or anesthesia only for 18F-MFBG imaging. * Note: Patients who need anesthesia will be required to have 18F-MFBG imaging combined with other scans or procedures necessary for clinical care (ex: MRI, bone marrow aspirate/biopsies, line placement). * Patients will be able to enroll prior to baseline 123I-MIBG imaging. However, patients who have had their baseline standard of care 123I-MIBG imaging prior to enrollment who have known MIBG non-avid disease are not eligible. * Patients who in the opinion of the investigator may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study are not eligible.