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Open AccessReview
Recent Advances in PET and Radioligand Therapy for Lung Cancer: FDG and FAP
by
Eun Jeong Lee
Eun Jeong Lee 1
,
Hyun Woo Chung
Hyun Woo Chung 2,3,*
,
Young So
Young So 2,3,
In Ae Kim
In Ae Kim 4,5,
Hee Joung Kim
Hee Joung Kim 4,5
and
Kye Young Lee
Kye Young Lee 4,5
1
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul Medical Center, 156 Sinnae-ro, Jungnang-gu, Seoul 02053, Republic of Korea
2
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05030, Republic of Korea
3
Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05030, Republic of Korea
4
Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05030, Republic of Korea
5
Precision Medicine Lung Cancer Center, Konkuk University Medical Center, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05030, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2025, 17(15), 2549; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152549 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 June 2025
/
Revised: 28 July 2025
/
Accepted: 31 July 2025
/
Published: 1 August 2025
Simple Summary
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. FDG PET/CT has become an essential imaging modality in the management of lung cancer. Recent developments in radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) have revolutionized the evaluation of complex imaging data, enhancing the diagnostic and predictive power of FDG PET/CT in lung cancer. Furthermore, newly introduced fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted radiopharmaceuticals represent a novel theranostic approach, offering the potential to combine PET imaging with radioligand therapy (RLT). In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of FDG PET/CT in lung cancer, along with recent advances in AI. Additionally, we discuss FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and their potential application in RLT for the personalized management of lung cancer.
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite advancements, the overall survival rate for lung cancer remains between 10% and 20% in most countries. However, recent progress in diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies has led to meaningful improvements in survival outcomes, highlighting the growing importance of personalized management based on accurate disease assessment. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) has become essential in the management of lung cancer, serving as a key imaging modality for initial diagnosis, staging, treatment response assessment, and follow-up evaluation. Recent developments in radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning and deep learning, have revolutionized the analysis of complex imaging data, enhancing the diagnostic and predictive capabilities of FDG PET/CT in lung cancer. However, the limitations of FDG, including its low specificity for malignancy, have driven the development of novel oncologic radiotracers. One such target is fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that is overexpressed in activated cancer-associated fibroblasts within the tumor microenvironment of various epithelial cancers. As a result, FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals represent a novel theranostic approach, offering the potential to integrate PET imaging with radioligand therapy (RLT). In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of FDG PET/CT in lung cancer, along with recent advances in AI. Additionally, we discuss FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and their potential application in RLT for the personalized management of lung cancer.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Lee, E.J.; Chung, H.W.; So, Y.; Kim, I.A.; Kim, H.J.; Lee, K.Y.
Recent Advances in PET and Radioligand Therapy for Lung Cancer: FDG and FAP. Cancers 2025, 17, 2549.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152549
AMA Style
Lee EJ, Chung HW, So Y, Kim IA, Kim HJ, Lee KY.
Recent Advances in PET and Radioligand Therapy for Lung Cancer: FDG and FAP. Cancers. 2025; 17(15):2549.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152549
Chicago/Turabian Style
Lee, Eun Jeong, Hyun Woo Chung, Young So, In Ae Kim, Hee Joung Kim, and Kye Young Lee.
2025. "Recent Advances in PET and Radioligand Therapy for Lung Cancer: FDG and FAP" Cancers 17, no. 15: 2549.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152549
APA Style
Lee, E. J., Chung, H. W., So, Y., Kim, I. A., Kim, H. J., & Lee, K. Y.
(2025). Recent Advances in PET and Radioligand Therapy for Lung Cancer: FDG and FAP. Cancers, 17(15), 2549.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152549
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