Reston, VA (June 6, 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.
Targeted Alpha Therapy Shows Promise Against Advanced Breast Cancer
Researchers developed a three-step radioimmunotherapy using the potent alpha emitter 225Ac to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. In preclinical models, this approach achieved high cure rates with minimal toxicity, using a carefully calibrated dosing strategy to maximize tumor destruction while sparing healthy tissue.
New Imaging Tool Enhances Prostate Cancer Detection
A new PET imaging agent, 18F-CTT1057, accurately detects prostate cancer by targeting PSMA, a key cancer marker. In a large clinical trial, it showed high sensitivity and specificity, with strong reader consistency and minimal side effects—offering a promising tool for early, precise diagnosis in high-risk prostate cancer patients.
New Standard Proposed for Interpreting FAP-Targeted Cancer Scans
A new reporting system, FAP-RADS version 1.0, has been developed to standardize how doctors interpret FAP-targeted scans used in cancer imaging. This flexible, five-point scale helps improve diagnosis, communication, and research by offering a consistent way to assess lesions across different cancers and imaging technologies.
Promising New Therapy for Rare Digestive Cancers Shows Cost-Effectiveness
A new study finds that 177Lu-DOTATATE, recently shown to significantly extend progression-free survival in advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, is also cost-effective compared to standard treatment. Despite higher upfront costs, it offers better long-term value, supporting its use as a first-line therapy for these rare but serious cancers.
New Alpha Therapy Shows Promise in Advanced Prostate Cancer
A novel targeted alpha therapy, 225Ac-SibuDAB, demonstrated early signs of effectiveness in heavily pretreated prostate cancer patients. With manageable side effects and notable PSA reductions in some cases, the therapy also showed that a key radioactive byproduct, 213Bi, is quickly cleared in urine—supporting its safety profile.
Dual Imaging Approach Enhances Breast Cancer Evaluation
Researchers combined PET and MRI scans to better assess HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Using 89Zr-trastuzumab PET with diffusion-weighted MRI improved tumor detection and revealed internal tumor differences. This noninvasive method could help monitor treatment response and capture cancer's complexity more effectively than current biopsy-based techniques.
Improved Imaging Accuracy for Early Prostate Cancer Recurrence
A new PSMA-targeted PET tracer, 18F-CTT1057, showed strong accuracy in detecting early prostate cancer recurrence, even at low PSA levels. In a major clinical study, it met key benchmarks for correctly identifying cancerous regions and predicting positive findings—offering a promising tool for earlier, more precise diagnosis.
Short-Term Drug Therapy Restores Iodine Uptake in Thyroid Cancer
A brief 10-day course of targeted therapy helped some patients with advanced thyroid cancer regain the ability to absorb radioactive iodine—key for effective treatment. This early study suggests shorter treatment may be just as effective as longer regimens, potentially reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes.
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