Reston, VA (August 15, 2025)—New research has been published ahead-of-print by The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM). JNM is published by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and theranostics—precision medicine that allows diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Summaries of the newly published research articles are provided below.
Triple-Targeted Cancer Therapy Shows Promise in Preclinical Models
Researchers tested three targeted treatments—image-guided radiation therapy, low-dose alpha therapy, and antibody-linked immunotherapy—on breast and colon tumors in mice. Combining the approaches improved tumor control, survival, immune cell activation, and tumor microenvironment changes, with fractionated radiation plus alpha therapy showing especially strong effects before adding immunotherapy.
New PET Imaging Tracer Tracks Immune Activation in Tumors
Scientists developed a PET tracer that detects CXCL9, a protein linked to activated T cells and better cancer outcomes. In preclinical models, the tracer selectively accumulated in CXCL9-rich tumors and tracked immune responses over time, offering a promising tool for monitoring cancer immunotherapy effectiveness.
Lower PET Scan Doses May Still Accurately Track Lymphoma Treatment
Researchers tested whether total-body PET/CT could use far lower 18F-FDG doses while still assessing lymphoma treatment response. In 24 patients, image quality and key tumor measurements remained comparable to standard doses down to certain low limits, potentially reducing radiation exposure without compromising diagnostic accuracy.
New PET Scan Shows Promise for Detecting Breast Cancer Spread
A study tested 18F-fluoroestradiol PET/CT in women with invasive lobular breast cancer to spot lymph node spread. The scan showed perfect specificity and moderate sensitivity, with improved detection in some cases missed by biopsy, highlighting its potential to aid early, accurate staging of this challenging breast cancer type.
AI Restores Quality in Ultra-Short Brain PET Scans
Researchers used deep learning to enhance brain PET scans taken in just seconds, preserving diagnostic accuracy for dementia detection. In tests, AI-restored images maintained high clarity, confidence, and accuracy, potentially allowing much shorter scans or lower radiation doses without compromising clinical usefulness.
Visit the JNM website for the latest research, and follow our new Twitter and Facebook pages @JournalofNucMed or follow us on LinkedIn .
