Reston, VA (November 21, 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.
Comparing Imaging Tools for Detecting Prostate Cancer
This study tested three imaging methods—PSMA PET, RM2 PET, and multiparametric MRI—to see how well they identify prostate tumors before surgery. Researchers also examined blood-based immune cell markers to explore whether they could help predict which patients have cancer spread to lymph nodes.
New Imaging Agents Aim to Better Spot Aggressive Prostate Tumors
Researchers tested two new PSMA-targeted PET tracers, including one designed to highlight low-oxygen tumor regions often found in more aggressive prostate cancer. In a 60-patient study, both agents were safe and showed strong tumor uptake, with the hypoxia-responsive version performing especially well in larger and higher-grade tumors.
New Imaging Scan Shows Promise for Detecting Hard-to-Find GIST Tumors
A study of 25 patients tested a new PET/CT tracer, 68Ga-FAPI-46, against standard imaging for gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The scan showed strong ability to spot tumors, including small liver and peritoneal lesions, and influenced doctors' treatment decisions in a quarter of cases, highlighting its growing clinical potential.
New Imaging Analysis May Help Distinguish Pancreatic Cancer from Look-Alike Diseases
Researchers used dynamic 68Ga-FAPI PET scans and advanced voxel-level digital analysis to study pancreatic lesions. By examining how the tracer moved through tissue over time, the method separated healthy, benign, and malignant patterns, suggesting a potential noninvasive way to improve diagnosis when standard imaging appears unclear.
Targeted Radiation Therapy Offers Option for Hard-to-Treat Skin Cancer
Researchers evaluated a topical radionuclide treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancers in elderly patients who could not undergo surgery. In 124 patients, the therapy was applied directly to 181 tumors and monitored over three years, showing strong local tumor control with mostly mild and temporary skin reactions.
Modern Imaging Offers a Less-Invasive Path to Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
A large clinical trial tested PSMA PET/MRI as an alternative to standard prostate biopsy. The scan accurately detected tumors, especially more aggressive ones, and reduced unnecessary procedures. Results suggest this imaging-guided approach could improve diagnosis and risk assessment while avoiding some complications of traditional biopsy.
How Lifestyle Factors Shape the Spread of Alzheimer's-Related Tau
Researchers studied 162 people with early signs of Alzheimer's using PET scans to see how body weight, education, blood pressure, and other factors influence the spread and intensity of tau protein in the brain. The study links modifiable health and lifestyle factors with how quickly tau pathology advances.
Claudin 18.2: A New Target for Imaging and Treating Tough Cancers
Researchers tested a protein called Claudin 18.2, common in gastric and pancreatic tumors, as a target for PET imaging and radiotherapy. In mouse models, new radiopharmaceuticals successfully located tumors and slowed their growth, showing strong potential for future clinical use.
New Approach to More Versatile Cancer Imaging Agents
Researchers demonstrate a new way to label antibodies with the imaging isotope 89Zr using a DTPA-based linker, overcoming stability and compatibility challenges with current methods. This technique enables matched diagnostic and therapeutic antibody pairs and was successfully tested in pertuzumab, showing favorable stability and biodistribution in preclinical models.
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