Reston, VA (June 5, 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.
Targeting a Tough Brain Cancer with Precision Radiotherapy
Researchers investigated a fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeting compound designed to both detect and treat glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. In preclinical models, the agent successfully identified tumors and improved survival when paired with chemotherapy. The study also compared different radioactive treatments and examined their effects on the tumor environment.
Sharper PET Imaging Reveals Fine Details in the Mouse Brain
A newly developed ultrahigh-resolution PET scanner enabled researchers to visualize molecular activity in the mouse brain with exceptional detail. Using a tracer that targets metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1, the system produced images that closely matched traditional autoradiography, allowing researchers to track brain activity and study neurologic disease targets more accurately.
One-Stop Imaging Approach Improves Detection of Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Researchers evaluated a streamlined imaging protocol that combines PET, MRI, and CT scans after a single injection of a prostate cancer–targeting tracer. In 106 men with suspected recurrence after prostate surgery, the combined PET/MRI approach identified more local recurrences than either PET/CT or multiparametric MRI alone, highlighting the value of integrated imaging.
Advanced PET/MRI Scan May Improve Detection of Endometriosis
Researchers explored whether a specialized PET/MRI scan targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP) could better identify endometriosis, a condition that can cause chronic pain and infertility. Compared with MRI alone, the combined imaging approach detected more suspicious lesions and showed strong agreement with surgical findings, suggesting potential value for preoperative evaluation.
Novel Targeted Radiotherapy Shows Promise for Neuroendocrine Tumors
Researchers evaluated an experimental alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical designed to treat advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors that had progressed after prior therapy. Using specialized imaging, they tracked how the treatment and its radioactive daughter products accumulated in tumors and healthy tissues, providing important information about radiation delivery, tumor targeting, and treatment behavior.
Delayed PET Imaging May Improve Detection of Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Researchers examined whether adding a delayed pelvic scan to standard PSMA PET/CT imaging could improve detection of recurrent prostate cancer after treatment. In more than 200 patients with rising PSA levels, the extra scan increased diagnostic confidence and uncovered additional suspicious lesions, helping clinicians better identify and evaluate potential sites of recurrence.
Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Shows Potential Against Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers evaluated a new CD44v6-targeting radiopharmaceutical designed to deliver radiation directly to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, one of the most aggressive cancers. In preclinical mouse models, the treatment accumulated strongly in tumors and slowed tumor growth, with enhanced effects observed when combined with chemotherapy, suggesting a possible path toward improved therapeutic strategies.
AI Advice in Medicine: How People Judge Physician Decisions
Researchers studied how both the public and physicians in the United States and Germany evaluate doctors who follow or reject artificial intelligence recommendations in medical care. Using randomized clinical scenarios, they found that accepting AI advice aligned with standard care was viewed more favorably, while responses to nonstandard AI suggestions were judged similarly regardless of acceptance or rejection.
Next-Generation PET Scanner Delivers High-Resolution Brain and Breast Imaging
Researchers tested a newly developed PET imaging system designed to improve resolution and flexibility across multiple clinical applications, including brain and breast imaging. In first-in-human studies, the scanner produced sharp, high-contrast images that clearly distinguished brain structures, detected characteristic patterns in neurological disease scans, and visualized breast tumors with detailed tumor boundaries and heterogeneity.
How Well Do Animal Studies Predict Human Radiation Exposure from PET Scans?
Researchers reviewed decades of data comparing radiation dose estimates from animal experiments and human studies for PET imaging drugs. They found that short-lived tracers showed strong agreement between preclinical and clinical estimates, while longer-lived compounds were less predictable and more variable, highlighting when animal data may or may not reliably inform human radiation safety.
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Please visit the SNMMI Media Center for more information about molecular imaging and precision imaging. To schedule an interview with the researchers, please contact Rebecca Maxey at (703) 652-6772 or rmaxey@snmmi.org .
About JNM and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) is the world’s leading nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and theranostics journal, accessed 15 million times each year by practitioners around the globe, providing them with the information they need to advance this rapidly expanding field. Current and past issues of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine can be found online at http://jnm.snmjournals.org.
JNM is published by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), 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. For more information, visit www.snmmi.org.
Journal of Nuclear Medicine