Enzyme-Based Clearance Improves Tumor Imaging Contrast in Mice
Published in Diseases!, Journals, Scanners and Imaging.
October 10, 2026
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging highlighted an experimental method for improving cancer imaging in its October 9 research briefing. The study, published online by The Journal of Nuclear Medicine on October 8, tests an enzyme-based way to remove unwanted radioactive material from the bloodstream.
Researchers used carboxypeptidase G2 after injecting a radioimmunoconjugate. The enzyme cleaves a methotrexate linker, providing a mechanism for clearing circulating radioactive material.
In mice, the approach increased the tumor-to-blood imaging signal by more than 40 percent, according to the society’s summary. Better separation between tumor signal and blood background could help make cancer targets easier to distinguish.
This is an animal-study finding. It does not establish improved diagnostic accuracy, safety, or treatment outcomes in patients. Human evaluation would be needed before drawing clinical conclusions.
Sources: Journal of Nuclear Medicine study (DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.126.272755); SNMMI October 9 briefing, syndicated by Mirage News.