Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging (also called nuclear medicine or nuclear imaging) can image the function of cells inside the body at the molecular level. This includes the imaging modalities of positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. How does PET and SPECT imaging work? Small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) injected into a patient. These can use sugars or chemical traits to bond to specific cells. The radioactive material is taken up by cells that consume the sugars. The radiation emitted from inside the body is detected by photon detectors outside the body. Computers take the data to assemble images of the radiation emissions. Nuclear images may appear fuzzy or ghostly rather than the sharper resolution from MRI and CT.  But, it provides metabolic information at a cellular level, showing if there are defects in the function of the heart, areas of very high metabolic activity associated with cancer cells, or areas of inflammation, data not available from other modalities. These noninvasive imaging exams are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, bone disorders and other disorders. 

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Gene therapy acts as a protector against fatal heart condition

A dangerous heart condition associated with muscular dystrophy could one day be treated with a gene therapy that protects the heart under stress. Researchers at the University of Missouri are conducting a preclinical study to develop a gene therapy that could be used for treating other heart conditions, the institution announced last week.

Glioma PET: Radiotracers DOPA and FET go head to head

In a direct visual and quantitative comparison of F-18 FET and F-18 DOPA in primary glioma, FET provided more quantitative characterization, but both were successful for tumor delineation, according to a review published Aug. 14 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Chronic pain and loss of motivation are chemically intertwined

Chronic pain is associated with a reduction in reward seeking, but not just because people are hurting and do not feel up to the task. New Stanford brain research is providing a more comprehensive picture of how molecular changes in the brain dictate loss of motivation in painful settings.

Will biosimilars burst into a $36B U.S. market?

It is easy to create generics from conventional drugs, but not so for biologics, which involve active biological ingredients such as proteins that can be leveraged to treat cancer and a range of other diseases. Biosimilars, which mimic biologics as closely as possible, could be the next big thing in the U.S., but a hot debate has been pitched over what to name these drugs.

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Varian to repurchase another 6 million shares of stock

Varian Medical Systems, makers of radiation oncology technology announced Aug. 18 that the company’s board of directors authorized an additional repurchase of six million shares of common stock until December 31, 2015.

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Telik gets $1.5M for phase II pancreatic PET agent

A $1.5 million contract for the development of an investigative, monoclonal-antibody based PET radiotracer that can detect pancreatic cancer has been awarded to Telik, the Palo Alto-based pharmaceutical company announced today.

Optogenetics lights up neurons after stroke

A treatment for stroke involving optogenetics fires up neurons in the motor cortex by way of a beam of light. This treatment has been shown in preclinical research to improve movement and coordination after a stroke, say researchers at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif.

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Nanomedicine: Cancer immunotherapy amplifies patients’ immune cells outside the body

An investigational cancer immunotherapy leverages the power of nanotube-polymer composites to create an environment where immune cells can be incubated and made significantly stronger outside the body and then injected back into the blood to blast off a stronger offense against cancer, Yale University announced Aug. 13.

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Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
Positron partners with Upbeat Cardiology Solutions to improve cardiac PET/CT access

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.