Reston, VA (May 22, 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.
Tiny Kidney Structures May Shape Radiation Therapy Safety
Researchers compared two radioactive cancer therapies, 161Tb and 177Lu, in mice to examine how radiation spreads through tiny kidney structures. Using advanced nephron-level modeling, they found uneven radiation doses within the kidney, especially in proximal tubules, highlighting limitations of standard whole-kidney dosimetry methods in evaluating potential treatment-related kidney exposure.
Targeted Radiation Therapy Linked to Longer Survival After Prostate Cancer Recurrence
An international study of more than 1,400 men with recurrent prostate cancer examined whether salvage radiotherapy improves survival after prostatectomy. Researchers used advanced PET imaging to restage disease and found the strongest survival benefit in patients whose scans showed no detectable cancer spread, particularly at low PSA levels.
New PET Imaging Approach May Improve Detection of Abdominal Cancer Spread
Researchers evaluated a newer imaging scan, FAPI PET/CT, for mapping peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with colorectal or ovarian cancer before surgery. In a prospective study of 61 patients, FAPI PET showed stronger agreement with surgical findings and detected more cancer-involved regions than MRI or standard FDG PET imaging.
Researchers Explore Ways to Boost Targeted Radiation Therapy Effectiveness
Scientists examined how cancer cells repair DNA damage during 177Lu radiopharmaceutical therapy, a treatment that delivers radiation over time at low dose rates. The review highlights ongoing efforts to pair targeted radiation with drugs that block DNA repair pathways, aiming to better understand factors that influence treatment response and resistance.
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