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Prior studies have demonstrated that radiolabeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibody (M5A) can target CEA-expressing cancers. This ongoing pilot study (NCT05245786) evaluates the ability of Cu-64-DOTA-M5A PET imaging to define disease extent before and after neoadjuvant radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients with biopsy proven cT3-4, N0 or N+ rectal cancer who were scheduled for neoadjuvant chemoradiation prior to TME or total neoadjuvant therapy underwent PET imaging with Cu-64-M5A within 4 weeks prior to start of neoadjuvant RT and 6-8 weeks after end of all neoadjuvant therapy and prior to planned surgery. Cu-64-M5A PET scans were read by the same nuclear medicine physician. A regional analysis (primary, pelvic nodes, and extra-pelvic) later compared CEA scans to standard of care (SOC) CT and MRI imaging, FDG PET if available, biopsies and surgical findings. Nine patients have been imaged to date with Cu-64-M5A PET (ages 46-70 years old). CEA PET imaging prior to RT identified the primary tumor in all 9 patients. For disease involving pelvic nodes, CEA PET imaging was in concordance with SOC imaging in 6 of 9 patients. In 5 patients CEA scans identified suspicious lesions outside the pelvis, which in 2 patients were confirmed by SOC imaging and biopsy (lung metastases; and a single liver metastasis), while in 3 patients PET avid nodes detected (para-aortic, left supraclavicular, mediastinal, porta hepatis, and portacaval) were outside the regions imaged as part of SOC. 4 of 9 patients to date have also been imaged post RT and prior to surgery. 2 patients had radiologic complete response (CR) on CEA scans which correlated with pathologic CR at surgery and with clinical CR on follow-up sigmoidoscopy. Two patients had positive scans; 1 patient at the primary site confirmed as residual disease at surgery; and 1 patient at the primary site, in mediastinal, para-aortic, and pelvic lymph nodes, and a new focus near the hepatic surface with biopsy confirmation of disease at the primary site and liver. Results demonstrate that Cu-64-M5A anti-CEA M5A PET imaging in patients with advanced rectal cancer shows promise in identifying known sites of disease at the primary site and regional lymph nodes, as well as identifying extra pelvic sites of disease. In addition, it shows promise for assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy. Cu-64-M5A imaging warrants further evaluation as a way to complement SOC imaging at initial staging, to select patients for local regional therapy and to select patients for non-operative management after neoadjuvant therapy. Given its targeting capabilities, M5A is also being evaluated radiolabeled with Ac-225 as a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical (NCT05204147) and as an anti-CEA-IL2 immunotherapy fusion agent (NCT06130826) in phase 1 trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the project was to assess the health seeking behaviour and knowledge on neonatal danger signs among neonatal caregivers in Upper Denkyira East Municipality., Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design and simple random sampling technique was employed to sample mothers' neonates visiting the postnatal clinic in the selected health facilities. The target population was mothers with neonates and above 18 years visiting the health facilities and were willing to be part of the study. Total population for the study was 387 however, 381 responded to the questionnaire. Structured questionnaire was the main data collection tool for the study. Data were analysed with SPSS version 23.0. Logistic regression with Pearson Chi square, p-value and odd ratio were the main statistical methods for the data analysis., Results: The results showed that 138 (36.2%) of the respondents stated that diarrhoea and vomiting constituted the major danger signs that sent their neonates to the hospital. Also the health seeking behaviour of the mothers showed positive results as most of the mothers (77.2%) attended hospital upon seeing neonatal danger sign. Finally, the association between mothers' socio-demographic characteristics and recognition of neonatal danger signs showed that mothers educational level and occupation were statistically significant (p-value = 0.000)., Conclusion: The study concluded that mothers' knowledge level on neonatal danger signs was high and also caregivers had good health seeking behaviour. It is recommended that community health nurses and midwives should embark on home visits to encourage mothers to practice the knowledge and skills acquired during counselling at the hospital. Mothers should be empowered to make decisions concerning their children's health care., (© 2024. The Author(s).)