Speaker
Description
Molecular diagnostic imaging, obtained through positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), has successfully served as a sensitive tool for detecting and monitoring the therapy of various diseases, primarily cancer. However, cancer proteomics has shown that the expression of specific molecular targets is dynamic, transforming molecular nuclear imaging techniques from purely diagnostic to procedures aimed at disease prognosis for accurate treatment selection. Tumors are pathological structures consisting of cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. The latter includes cells communicating through dynamic networks regulated by acellular factors, such as inflammatory enzymes, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix components. The vital roles of cells and proteins in the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells are receiving much attention in the field of cancer biology. Therefore, current cancer therapies focus on inhibiting cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance by reducing immunosuppression and remodeling the tumor microenvironment. This presentation briefly describes our research on the development of radiopharmaceuticals targeting tumor microenvironment proteins such as fibroblast activation protein (FAP), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which have proven useful for detecting, in time and space, changes in the phenotype of different cancer entities. These changes have been essential for defining patient treatment based on the expression or suppression of proteins involved in the disease.
A key aspect of this presentation is the focus on translational research, in which radiopharmaceutical products are patented and licensed to international consortia, showcasing the radiopharmacy research group's ability to develop its own technology in Mexico.
Acknowledgments: This research was funded by Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (SECIHTI, Mexico), grant number MADTEC-2025-M-I35.
