Can a new PET tracer outsmart head and neck cancer metastases?
NCT ID NCT05423197
First seen Aug 17, 2026 · Last updated Aug 17, 2026
Summary
This Phase II trial investigates whether an experimental imaging agent called 89Zr-panitumumab can better identify metastatic lesions in people with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Participants receive the agent intravenously and then undergo PET/CT imaging, which is compared to standard FDG-PET/CT scans. The goal is to see if this new tracer improves sensitivity and specificity in detecting cancer spread, potentially leading to more accurate staging and treatment planning.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 89Zr-panitumumab, an investigational imaging agent given intravenously, plus a small oral dose of panitumumab
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this imaging approach could improve detection of cancer spread in head and neck cancer, guiding more accurate staging and treatment decisions.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase II study with a small number of participants. The imaging agent may not reliably distinguish cancer from other lesions, and there are risks from radiation exposure and potential allergic reactions.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Stanford Cancer Institute
San Francisco, California, 94305, United States
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