Description:

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most prevalent and lethal malignancy of the kidney. At the time of diagnosis, as many as a fifth of patients have metastatic disease (mRCC). Despite advances in treatment, long-term survival rates remain poor. 18F-fluoropivalate ([18F]FPIA) is a new tracer that images short chain fatty acid (SCFA) uptake in tumours, a key component of fatty acid oxidation. The aim of the study is to investigate longitudinal changes in [18F]FPIA uptake at baseline, at 4-6 weeks and at 12 weeks following treatment initiation in patients using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI's), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or combinations of these. The investigators hypothesise that the import of [18F]FPIA-detectable SCFA into tumours is high and decreases with effective treatment.