Editorial: Development and validation of new molecular probes of nuclear medicine and new targets of nuclear drugs in cancers

Overcoming drug resistance remains one of the most pressing challenges in oncology.Xu et al. systematically reviewed cuproptosis, a recently characterized form of regulated cell death driven by the disruption of intracellular copper homeostasis. Excess copper triggers the aggregation of lipoylated mitochondrial proteins and the loss of iron-sulfur cluster proteins within the tricarboxylic acid cycle, ultimately leading to proteotoxic stress and cell death. The authors further discussed how copper ionophores, copper chelators, and engineered nanodelivery systems may be harnessed to exploit this pathway against drug-resistant tumors. In a complementary study on hematologic malignancy, Li et al. investigated the role of sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) in multiple myeloma. Using bioinformatics analysis, clinical bone marrow specimens, and in vitro functional assays, they demonstrated that SPAG6 is markedly overexpressed in myeloma cells and correlates with elevated blood calcium, increased plasma cell ratio, and skeletal infiltration.Mechanistically, SPAG6 interacts with dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) to activate the MAPK/ERK signaling cascade, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and resistance to apoptosis. These results position SPAG6 as a promising therapeutic target for multiple myeloma. The studies assembled in this special issue encompass drug resistance mechanisms, novel radiopharmaceutical design, and clinical molecular imaging, reflecting the multifaceted progress of nuclear medicine from bench to bedside. By validating new -4-therapeutic targets, optimizing diagnostic and therapeutic probes, and demonstrating the clinical utility of metabolic imaging biomarkers, this collection of work advances the field toward the goal of truly integrated precision theranostics. Looking ahead, continued interdisciplinary collaboration between radiochemists, oncologists, and imaging scientists will be essential to translate these promising findings into routine clinical practice and ultimately improve patient outcomes.