University of Alberta researchers have developed a new molecular imaging test that could lead to improved diagnosis of lung cancer and better monitoring of treatment.
The innovation involves pairing panitumumab, a humanized antibody already used clinically for cancer treatments, with copper-64, a radioactive isotope that can be used in PET scans.
The new technique combines the antibody's ability to home in on specific targets with the unrivalled sensitivity of radioisotope detection, offering an opportunity for earlier and more accurate detection and treatment response monitoring of lung cancer, which is still among the leading causes of cancer deaths in Canada as it often remains undetected until later, more aggressive stages.
