Reston, VA (March 20, 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.
Immune Cells Link Heart and Brain Inflammation After Heart Attack
After a heart attack, immune responses in the heart may also trigger inflammation in the brain, raising concerns about cognitive decline. Using advanced imaging in mice, researchers tracked macrophages and neutrophils over time, revealing dynamic complex interactions between these cells and highlighting how immune activity evolves simultaneously in both organs.
PET Imaging May Better Predict CAR T-Cell Therapy Outcomes
In patients with aggressive lymphoma receiving CAR T-cell therapy, accurately predicting who will benefit remains a challenge. This multicenter study examined whether PET-based metabolic tumor volume could outperform traditional risk scores by measuring tumor burden before treatment and evaluating its ability to forecast progression-free survival.
Imaging Reveals Hidden Metabolic Patterns in Recurrent Brain Cancer
Recurrent glioblastoma is difficult to assess due to complex tumor behavior and treatment effects. In this prospective study, researchers combined advanced PET, MRI, and genetic profiling to explore how imaging signals reflect underlying tumor biology, linking noninvasive scans to distinct metabolic activity patterns within aggressive brain tumors.
Promising Prostate Cancer Therapy Shows Clinical Benefits and Economic Considerations
A targeted radiotherapy for advanced prostate cancer offers clinical benefits, including improved progression-free survival and fewer side effects compared with chemotherapy. This study used a U.S.-based economic model to assess whether these advantages translate into good value, analyzing long-term costs, quality of life, and key factors influencing cost-effectiveness.
Prognostic Value of SPECT/CT and PET/CT After PSMA-Targeted Therapy
Advanced imaging is key to monitoring response to targeted prostate cancer therapy, but PET scans are costly and not always accessible. This study compared SPECT/CT with PET/CT after two treatment cycles, evaluating how well each method detects disease progression and predicts patient outcomes.
New Imaging Approach Targets CCR2 in Head and Neck Cancer
This study assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the CCR2-targeting radiotracer 64 Cu-DOTA-ECL1i for tumor detection in a mouse oral carcinoma model, compared to 18 F-FDG. The capability of 64 Cu-DOTA-ECL1i for monitoring tumor treatment response was also evaluated using various treatment strategies.
Enhancing Radioguided Surgery with Real-Time Signal-to-Background Ratio Feedback
Radioguided surgery using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted tracers can be challenging due to low intraoperative signal intensities. This study evaluated whether integrating real-time signal-to-background ratio feedback into the robotic console improves surgical perception, decisiveness, and scanning efficiency during PSMA-radioguided procedures.
Early Scan Signals May Predict Prostate Cancer Response
Researchers studied 192 men with advanced prostate cancer receiving 177 Lu-PSMA-617 therapy. They measured tumor activity on SPECT scans after the first treatment cycle and found that higher uptake levels were linked to stronger PSA responses and longer periods before disease progression, suggesting early scans could guide treatment planning.
New Nanobody Probe Shows Clear Tumor Imaging with Low Kidney Uptake
Scientists developed 68 Ga-SNA014, a nanobody-based probe targeting CLDN18.2 in gastric cancer. Lab tests and mouse studies showed strong tumor binding, low kidney retention, and fast blood clearance. Early human PET/CT scans successfully highlighted lesions with lower radiation exposure than standard imaging.
Tracking Immune Response to Oncolytic Virus Therapy in Mice
Researchers used immuno-PET imaging to monitor how an injected oncolytic virus affects PD-L1 expression in oral cancer models. The scans revealed temporary increases in immune activity in spleens and lymph nodes and confirmed local tumor immune stimulation, providing a noninvasive way to track systemic immune responses.
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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