PET scans reveal alpha cancer therapy isotope with new algorithm in first human test
A research team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has developed a new imaging technique that could allow modern medical scanners to image targeted alpha therapy (TAT), an emerging cancer therapy for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The advance could enable the widespread adoption of this new cancer therapy.
A team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed a new imaging technique called TOF-CGI that could enable PET scanners to detect targeted alpha therapy (TAT) radioisotopes. TAT uses alpha-emitting radioisotopes like actinium-225 to target and kill cancer cells. Currently, clinicians lack a reliable way to image actinium-225 due to the limitations of existing medical scanners.
TOF-CGI, which uses the gamma-ray pairs emitted by actinium-225 decay, could overcome these challenges and provide clearer images of tumors. The technique was successfully tested in a pilot study on a patient with prostate cancer, detecting the same tumors as standard PET scans. Researchers hope TOF-CGI could eventually be used with full-body PET scanners to help determine the effectiveness of TAT treatment.
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