In a significant advancement for thyroid cancer treatment, researchers from the Chinese mainland have developed a novel imaging technique to better localize medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
MTC is a challenging form of thyroid cancer, particularly due to the difficulty in identifying metastatic lesions. The breakthrough utilizes a new class of radiopharmaceuticals known as covalent targeted radioligands (CTR), which enhance the precision of locating metastatic tumors.
This innovative approach was the result of collaboration between Liu Shaoyan from the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Liu Zhibo from Peking University and Changping Laboratory. Their groundbreaking study was published online in Cancer Discovery, a prominent journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, in late October.
Dr. Liu Shaoyan emphasized the limitations of existing imaging techniques, stating, \"Existing imaging methods often fail to accurately locate metastatic lesions. A precise imaging method is crucial to assist surgeons in determining the extent of the surgical procedure.\"
The new CTR-based imaging allows for selective targeting of tumor cells, resulting in higher accumulation and longer retention of radioactive agents in the tumor. This leads to better imaging contrast, clearer tumor identification, and more precise treatment planning, according to Kong Ziren, co-first author of the study.
Looking forward, Dr. Liu noted that as this imaging technique evolves, CTR holds promise not only for MTC but also for enhancing diagnostic capabilities in various other cancers.
Reference(s):
Chinese researchers make breakthrough in thyroid cancer management
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