Goto H, Takano M, Shiraishi Y, Luanpitpong S. Immuno-positron emission tomography as a new frontier in imaging hematologic malignancies. World J Clin Oncol 2025; 16(9): 108585 [PMID: 41024830 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i9.108585]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hiroki Goto, MD, PhD, Division of Radioisotope and Tumor Pathobiology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan. hgoto20@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Research Domain of This Article
Hematology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Hiroki Goto, Mariko Takano, Division of Radioisotope and Tumor Pathobiology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
Yoshioki Shiraishi, Radioisotope Center, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
Sudjit Luanpitpong, Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Author contributions: Goto H performed the majority of the writing and prepared the Figures and Tables; Takano M and Shiraishi Y provided input in writing the paper and performed writing; Luanpitpong S provided input in writing the paper and was involved in preparing Figure 2.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Hiroki Goto, MD, PhD, Division of Radioisotope and Tumor Pathobiology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan. hgoto20@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Received: April 18, 2025 Revised: May 22, 2025 Accepted: August 4, 2025 Published online: September 24, 2025 Processing time: 158 Days and 15.9 Hours
Abstract
Immuno-positron emission tomography (immuno-PET) is an innovative medical imaging technique that combines antibodies (Abs) or other immune-targeting molecules with positron-emitting radionuclides. By targeting antigens that are highly expressed in hematologic malignancies, immuno-PET has transformed diagnostic capabilities and enables precise monitoring of therapeutic responses through highly sensitive and specific tumor cell detection. Additionally, it plays a critical role in advancing therapeutic approaches by seamlessly linking diagnostic imaging with personalized treatment strategies. Its non-invasive nature and ability to provide whole-body imaging offer significant advantages over traditional diagnostic methods, especially for detecting minimal residual disease and guiding adaptive therapeutic interventions. In Ab-based immuno-PET, positron-emitting radionuclides must have a half-life sufficient for slower pharmacokinetics and blood clearance of Abs. Recent studies have highlighted the advantages of long-lived radionuclides, such as 89Zr, which exhibit low positron energy and enable high sensitivity and resolution, making them particularly effective for tumor visualization and characterization. This review explores the current applications, recent advancements, and potential of immuno-PET for hematologic malignancies, emphasizing its pivotal role in improving patient outcomes and advancing precision medicine.
Core Tip: Fluorine-18 (18F)-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET is commonly used to detect residual tumor cells and evaluate treatment responses in hematologic malignancies. However, as FDG uptake reflects glucose metabolism, it does not accurately indicate the presence of tumor cells expressing specific antigens. Recent studies have introduced immuno-PET, which labels antibodies or other immune-targeting molecules with positron-emitting radionuclides, as a promising alternative for visualizing tumor distribution and assessing therapeutic responses. This technique provides a specific imaging approach. In this minireview, we highlight recent progress in immuno-PET and discuss its future clinical applications in the management of hematologic malignancies.
