Reston, VA (September 12, 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.
New PET Imaging Agent Tested in Thyroid and Neuroendocrine Tumors
A pilot clinical study evaluated a novel PET/CT tracer, ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-MGS5, targeting cholecystokinin-2 receptors in patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Results showed promising lesion detection in MTC and certain bronchopulmonary NETs, with uptake levels comparable to established imaging agents.
Refining Visual Reads for Alzheimer's Tau PET Imaging
Researchers compared two visual read algorithms for tau PET scans in over 1,600 participants from the BioFINDER-2 study. The BioFINDER visual read method showed superior accuracy in detecting early tau buildup in the entorhinal cortex and demonstrated excellent consistency across readers, supporting its use in clinical practice.
Advancing Neuroblastoma Imaging with ¹⁸F-MFBG PET
In a study of 37 patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, ¹⁸F-MFBG PET identified more lesions than standard ¹²³I-MIBG scans, while offering faster, same-day imaging. The new tracer showed high concordance with ¹²³I-MIBG and confirmed additional true-positive lesions, highlighting its potential as a superior diagnostic tool.
New PET Tracers Target GABA Transporter in the Brain
Researchers tested four novel ¹⁸F-labeled PET radiotracers designed to image GABA transporter type 1 (GAT-1), a key regulator of brain signaling linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. In nonhuman primates, two tracers showed strong potential, with ¹⁸F-GATT-44 emerging as the most promising candidate for future human studies.
Imaging Fibrosis in MASH with PET
Scientists used a PET tracer, ¹⁸F-FPP-RGD2, to track integrin αvβ3 activity in a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The tracer revealed fibrosis progression and confirmed strong target engagement by the experimental drug IDL-2965, which also reduced fibrosis. Human biopsies supported integrin αvβ3 as a therapeutic target.
SSTR PET/CT Shows High Accuracy in Detecting Meningiomas
A large retrospective study of more than 8,000 scans evaluated SSTR PET/CT for suspected intracranial meningiomas. Among 240 lesions with histopathology, the scan achieved 100 percent sensitivity and 97 percent overall diagnostic accuracy. While a small number of false-positives occurred, findings support SSTR PET/CT as a powerful tool for guiding treatment decisions.
PSMA PET Metrics Predict Survival in Prostate Cancer
In a multicenter study of 128 men treated with taxane-based chemotherapy, quantitative measures from ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET scans were evaluated for prognostic value. Baseline PSMA-positive tumor volume (PSMA-VOL) best predicted overall survival, while changes in PSA levels during treatment were stronger predictors than PET-based changes.
Fast Whole-Body SPECT Enhances Prognosis in Prostate Cancer Therapy
In 72 men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, rapid whole-body ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA SPECT scans during treatment provided powerful survival predictions. Detection of new bone lesions and high final tumor lesion activity were key prognostic markers, outperforming PSA changes and baseline PET measures, offering a stronger guide for patient outcomes.
Neuroinflammation Detected in Some Post-COVID Patients
Using TSPO PET imaging with ¹⁸F-DPA-714, researchers studied 47 people two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some with persistent fatigue and concentration problems showed increased brain tracer binding, suggesting neuroinflammation. While results varied widely, findings point to an inflammatory subtype of post-COVID syndrome that may underlie lingering symptoms.
FAPI PET Tracks Fibrosis Reversibility in the Heart
In a mouse model of heart stress, ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT revealed early and reversible fibroblast activation, with signals declining rapidly after treatment withdrawal. Imaging changes preceded functional heart decline, highlighting FAPI PET's potential to monitor antifibrotic therapy response and detect early fibrosis in cardiac remodeling and related complications.
AI Enables MR-Free Quantification of Tau PET in Alzheimer's
Researchers developed a deep learning–based pipeline to quantify tau PET uptake without MRI, simplifying Alzheimer's disease imaging. The AI model accurately estimated regional tau deposition, correlated with cognitive performance, and predicted future decline. This approach could streamline early diagnosis and monitoring, supporting personalized treatment strategies for Alzheimer's patients.
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