New PET/CT Imaging Method Enables Accurate Mapping of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Biomarker
A groundbreaking immuno-PET/CT imaging technique has successfully identified and validated CD70 as a reliable biomarker for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). CD70 is consistently expressed in NPC tumors, and CD70-targeted immuno-PET/CT has shown strong performance in detecting both primary and metastatic NPC lesions.
Published in the June edition of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, this study may improve diagnostic accuracy and guide individualized treatments for NPC patients. NPC occurs in the upper throat behind the nose and skull base, and while it is relatively rare, it is more common in regions such as South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. The disease is strongly linked to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), making immune-associated biomarkers an attractive focus for investigation.
“We know that the biomarker CD70 is crucial in the immune response to EBV infection,” said Dr. Weijun Wei, associate research professor at Renji Hospital’s Department of Nuclear Medicine in Shanghai. “Since many NPC cases are associated with EBV infection, we sought to further investigate the role and diagnostic potential of this biomarker”.
The researchers examined CD70 expression in 80 archived NPC tissue samples and compared the results with clinical and pathological data. Then, they conducted 18F‑RCCB6 immuno‑PET/CT scans on 25 NPC patients, using 18F‑RCCB6, a single-domain antibody tracer specific to CD70, and compared it to standard 18F‑FDG PET/CT. CD70 was present in 90% of the tissue samples and strongly associated with EBV status.
In early-stage patients, 18F‑RCCB6 imaging detected all primary tumors and 93% of local lymph node metastases. Compared to 18F‑FDG, the CD70-targeted tracer showed higher sensitivity for lymph nodes and comparable performance in identifying primary and most distant metastases. It also provided clearer visualization of skull-base invasion and bone metastases.
“These findings are critical for improving NPC management,” Dr. Wei noted. “18F‑RCCB6 immuno‑PET/CT offers precise detection of primary tumors, metastases, and recurrent lesions, reducing false positives from inflammatory uptake seen with 18F‑FDG. This accuracy can enhance radiotherapy planning and guide personalized therapies, such as CD70-targeted immunotherapies. For patients, this translates to earlier detection, reduced overtreatment, and better prognostication”.
The study, titled “CD70‑Targeted [18F]RCCB6 Immuno‑PET/CT Imaging in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Proof‑of‑Concept Study,” was conducted by a team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Renji Hospital, along with experts in radiation oncology.