Reston, VA (June 12, 2026)—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.
Targeted Radioactive Gold Nanoparticles Show Promise Against Aggressive Brain Tumors
Researchers evaluated radioactive gold nanoparticles designed to target EGFR, a protein commonly overexpressed in glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer. In a mouse model, the nanoparticles remained localized within the tumor site after delivery to the brain, showed no significant toxicity, reduced tumor growth, and extended survival compared with nontargeted nanoparticles and control treatments.
Ultra-High-Resolution PET Brings Mouse Brain Imaging into Sharper Focus
Researchers developed a PET scanner capable of imaging structures smaller than half a millimeter, enabling exceptionally detailed views of the mouse brain. Using a tracer that targets metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1, the team produced brain images that closely matched autoradiography results, offering a powerful new tool for studying neurologic diseases in preclinical models.
PET Imaging Reveals Limited Receptor Expression in Rare Aggressive Neuroendocrine Cancers
Researchers prospectively evaluated somatostatin receptor expression in patients with metastatic extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma using 68Ga-DOTATATE PET and compared findings with 18F-FDG PET. Among 30 patients, only a small proportion showed strong, uniform receptor uptake, providing new insight into the biologic characteristics of these rare and aggressive cancers.
PET/MRI Helps Uncover Hidden Epilepsy Lesions in Children
Researchers evaluated the use of 18F-FDG PET/MRI in children with focal epilepsy whose MRI scans were negative or inconclusive. The combined imaging approach identified metabolic abnormalities in most patients and improved detection of potential seizure-causing brain lesions, helping clinicians better plan surgical treatment and assess likely outcomes.
Total-Body PET Captures Proton Therapy Effects at Ultra-Low Activity Levels
Researchers explored whether a near-room total-body PET/CT scanner could improve imaging after proton therapy, when radioactive signals are extremely weak. The system successfully visualized proton-induced activity throughout the body and tracked how it moved through blood circulation over time, offering new insights into treatment-related biologic processes and response monitoring.
PSMA PET May Improve Treatment Planning for Advanced Prostate Cancer
Researchers compared imaging methods used to guide metastasis-directed therapy in men with oligometastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. An analysis of 102 patients found that PSMA PET/CT-guided treatment was associated with longer periods without biochemical disease progression than approaches guided by choline PET/CT or conventional imaging, highlighting the growing role of advanced molecular imaging.
Novel PET Tracer Targets Key Driver of Prostate Cancer
Researchers developed a new PET imaging tracer designed to detect androgen receptors, a major driver of prostate cancer growth. In laboratory and animal studies, the tracer demonstrated strong receptor binding, high stability, and tumor-specific uptake, outperforming an existing imaging agent and offering a new approach for studying prostate cancer biology.
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