Head-to-Head Comparison of Neuroblastoma Detection by [ 64 Cu]GD2 PET and [ 123 I]MIBG SPECT

123I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine ([123I]MIBG) SPECT is well-established for neuroblastoma diagnostics. Nevertheless, therapies targeting GD2 on neuroblastoma gain clinical importance in standard treatment and clinical trials, which emphasizes the relevance of PET using the radiolabeled GD2 antibody [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-ch14.18/CHO ([64Cu]GD2) for noninvasive detection of GD2 expression. Here, we present an initial comparison of the diagnostic performance of [64Cu]GD2 PET and [123I]MIBG SPECT. Methods: Five patients with neuroblastoma underwent [123I]MIBG SPECT, [64Cu]GD2 PET, and MRI. The detected lesions were compared between [123I]MIBG and [64Cu]GD2 using International Society of Pediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma (SIOPEN) and modified Curie scores. Results: Three patients suffered from multiple metastases, and 2 patients presented solitary lymph node metastases. Both modalities detected lesions in every patient; [64Cu]GD2 revealed additional lesions in patients with multiple metastases compared with [123I]MIBG, leading to higher SIOPEN and modified Curie scores. Conclusion: These initial data indicate the diagnostic suitability of [64Cu]GD2 for detection of neuroblastoma metastasis.

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Journal
Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Published
2026-09-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.126.272350
Primary Topic
Neuroblastoma Research and Treatments
Type
article
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article

Head-to-Head Comparison of Neuroblastoma Detection by [ 64 Cu]GD2 PET and [ 123 I]MIBG SPECT

Helmut Dittmann, Claudia Rössig, Bernd J. Pichler, Lena S. Kiefer et al.
Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Neuroblastoma Research and Treatments
article

Head-to-Head Comparison of Neuroblastoma Detection by [ 64 Cu]GD2 PET and [ 123 I]MIBG SPECT

Helmut Dittmann, Claudia Rössig, Bernd J. Pichler, Lena S. Kiefer, Juergen Schaefer, Christian la Fougère, Arthur Wingerter, Eduardo Calderón, Jakob Spogis, Nils Florian Trautwein, Johannes Schwenck, Michael Schaefers, Peter Lang, Gerald Reischl
article en

Abstract

123I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine ([123I]MIBG) SPECT is well-established for neuroblastoma diagnostics. Nevertheless, therapies targeting GD2 on neuroblastoma gain clinical importance in standard treatment and clinical trials, which emphasizes the relevance of PET using the radiolabeled GD2 antibody [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-ch14.18/CHO ([64Cu]GD2) for noninvasive detection of GD2 expression. Here, we present an initial comparison of the diagnostic performance of [64Cu]GD2 PET and [123I]MIBG SPECT. Methods: Five patients with neuroblastoma underwent [123I]MIBG SPECT, [64Cu]GD2 PET, and MRI. The detected lesions were compared between [123I]MIBG and [64Cu]GD2 using International Society of Pediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma (SIOPEN) and modified Curie scores. Results: Three patients suffered from multiple metastases, and 2 patients presented solitary lymph node metastases. Both modalities detected lesions in every patient; [64Cu]GD2 revealed additional lesions in patients with multiple metastases compared with [123I]MIBG, leading to higher SIOPEN and modified Curie scores. Conclusion: These initial data indicate the diagnostic suitability of [64Cu]GD2 for detection of neuroblastoma metastasis.

Journal of Nuclear Medicine
German Cancer Research Center (DE), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE), University of Münster (DE), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE), University Hospital Münster (DE), STZ eyetrial (DE), University of Tübingen (DE)
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Neuroblastoma Research and Treatments
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