Reston, VA (February 27, 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.
New PSMA PET Tracer Shows Promise in Early Human Study
A first-in-human study evaluated the safety and imaging profile of 68 Ga-HTK03149, a new PSMA-targeted PET tracer for men with recurrent prostate cancer. In 10 participants, scans showed no adverse effects, favorable radiation dosimetry, strong tumor uptake, and clearer lesion visibility two hours after injection.
Dynamic PET Imaging Tracks Heart Amyloid More Precisely
Researchers developed an advanced dynamic PET imaging approach to better measure amyloid buildup in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). In 12 patients, the method provided detailed heart tracer data and detected significant reductions in amyloid burden after six months of tafamidis therapy, improving disease monitoring.
PET Imaging Biomarkers May Predict Prostate Cancer Therapy Response
A review of 23 studies found that certain PSMA PET imaging measures—especially average uptake (SUVmean), tumor volume, and total lesion PSMA—can help predict survival and treatment response in men receiving 177 Lu-PSMA therapy for advanced prostate cancer. Other measures, such as SUVmax, showed limited prognostic value.
Adenosine Stress Test Affects More Than the Heart
Using advanced total-body PET imaging, researchers examined how adenosine—a drug commonly used during cardiac stress tests—affects blood flow in different organs. In 91 patients, adenosine increased perfusion in the heart, liver, and intestines but reduced blood flow in the brain, kidneys, spleen, muscle, and bone.
Hidden Heart Risk Found Despite Zero Calcium Score
A study of 2,270 symptomatic patients with a coronary artery calcium score of zero found that nearly one-third had impaired myocardial flow reserve on PET imaging. Reduced blood flow was linked to higher rates of death and cardiac events, improving risk prediction beyond calcium scoring alone.
Next-Generation Radiotherapy Shows Stronger Tumor Targeting in Prostate Cancer Models
Researchers developed 177 Lu-ART-101, a new PSMA-targeted radiotherapy for advanced prostate cancer. In preclinical models, the agent delivered higher radiation doses to tumors, improved tumor control, and extended survival compared with standard therapy, while showing manageable and largely reversible side effects.
Targeted “Radiotheranostics” Offer New Hope in Gastric Cancer
Researchers developed a dual imaging-and-therapy approach targeting CLDN18.2, a protein found in many gastric cancers. Using radiolabeled zolbetuximab for PET imaging and treatment, they achieved selective tumor targeting and sustained tumor control in patient-derived models, supporting a personalized, biomarker-driven strategy for future care.
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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