New Perspectives in Imaging Techniques

The development of nuclear medicine offers new perspectives in multiple myeloma (MM) imaging. New sensitive and specific positron emission tomography (PET) imaging tracers are needed to overcome limitations of 18fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG), in order to improve tumor characterization by targeting other metabolic pathways or biomarkers expressed by neoplasm’s cells. 11C-Methionine, which uptake reflects the increased protein synthesis of malignant cells, lipid tracers (such as Choline or acetate), and small molecules such as 68Ga-Pentixafor (which targets CXCR4 (chemokine receptor-4)) are example of promising PET ligands. 18F-fludarabine and immuno-PET targeting CD138 and CD38 also showed promising results in preclinical models.