New PET Imaging Approach Enhances Cancer Treatment Monitoring Highlighted at SNMMI 2026

A recent breakthrough in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging presents a novel method to simultaneously monitor tumor progression and cardiac inflammation during cancer treatment. This innovative approach might significantly improve clinical decision-making by providing a more comprehensive understanding of therapeutic impacts.

Presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2026 Annual Meeting, the research highlights a dual imaging strategy using a CCR2-targeted radiotracer. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapies, while revolutionizing cancer treatment, have been known to cause cardiovascular adverse effects in some patients. Early detection and management of these adverse events are crucial to prevent their escalation or disruption of cancer therapy.

Jaume Otaegui, PhD, from Washington University in St. Louis, commented on the absence of established molecular imaging techniques for detecting cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing ICI therapy. The research leveraged the CCR2 protein, which is found in both inflammatory atherosclerotic plaques and tumors, to monitor immune-related cardiovascular events.

The study involved two cohorts of mice designed as a cardio-oncology model. The first group received ICI or control treatments, while undergoing PET imaging with the CCR2-targeted radiotracer 64Cu-DOTA-ECL1i and F-18 FDG PET/CT for comparison. Another group received a Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, itacitinib, alongside ICI therapy. The findings showed that 64Cu-DOTA-ECL1i provided superior imaging of plaques and tumors compared to F-18 FDG. A notable increase in cardiac signal was observed during ICI treatment, but this effect was mitigated with the addition of itacitinib, which also improved tumor response.

Otaegui underscored the potential of CCR2 PET imaging for clinicians to detect cardiovascular changes early, thereby safeguarding patients from severe complications like myocarditis and heart attacks. The dual therapeutic approach combining itacitinib with ICI therapies could simultaneously reduce cardiovascular inflammation and boost tumor control, suggesting a move towards more personalized and effective cancer therapies.

This approach is still under clinical evaluation for multiple disease indications, and while ICI therapy has gained FDA approval for various stages of head and neck cancer, the integration of this imaging technique could soon be practical. Nevertheless, further studies are required to validate the combination therapy across broader contexts.

The research opens new potential for safer and individualized cancer treatments by addressing both oncological and cardiovascular concerns within an innovative theranostic framework.