With 9,431 participants and 2,991 submitted abstracts, EANM 2025 – the Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine –, held from October 4 to 8 in Barcelona, Spain, broke historical engagement records within the scientific community and celebrated the organization’s 40th anniversary, consolidating itself as the largest global meeting in Nuclear Medicine. The event brought together researchers, physicians, and leading professionals from all continents, with notable Brazilian participation, including researchers from CEPID CancerThera.
Dr. Elba Etchebehere, nuclear medicine physician, president of the Brazilian Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SBMN), principal investigator, and Knowledge Dissemination Coordinator at CancerThera, represented Brazil in the first scientific plenary session of the event, titled “World’s Best Theranostics Comes to EANM’25,” which gathered experts from the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, India, and Japan.
Bringing together more than 3,000 participants in the main auditorium, in her lecture “Radium-223 through the ages: From discovery to modern applications,” Etchebehere outlined the evolution of radium-223 therapy in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, from early clinical studies to optimized contemporary practices. Based on data from more than 12,000 administered cycles, she highlighted that completing five to six treatment cycles and adjusting administration intervals significantly improves survival and tolerability, especially when radium-223 is combined with other therapies.
The researcher emphasized that the main current challenge is the rational sequencing of alpha- and beta-emitting therapies, such as radium-223 and PSMA-targeted agents, in a complementary manner, aiming to maximize clinical benefit and patients’ quality of life. “It was a great honor to share the stage with colleagues who have contributed to advancing Nuclear Medicine worldwide. This exchange of experiences and international recognition reinforces Brazil’s commitment to innovation and scientific development in the field,” highlighted Etchebehere, who is also a professor at the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Campinas.
During the congress, the selection of Rio de Janeiro as the host city for the World Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) in 2030 was officially announced, an achievement led by Elba Etchebehere herself, with the support of nuclear medicine physicians and SBMN directors Dr. Dalton Alexandre dos Anjos and Dr. Allan Oliveira dos Santos, who is also an associate researcher at CancerThera. This will be the first time Brazil hosts this event in its history.
On the occasion, other international Nuclear Medicine events to be hosted in Brazil were also announced: in April 2026, the 13th Targeted Alpha Therapy International Symposium together with the 19th Edwaldo Camargo Symposium – Beta Therapy; and, in 2028, the Congress of the Latin American Association of Societies of Biology and Nuclear Medicine (ALASBIMN). Brazil’s official affiliation to EANM was also confirmed, strengthening the country’s political and scientific presence on the international stage.
18 scientific works highlighted
In addition to its presence in the main plenary, CancerThera had prominent representation in different scientific sessions at EANM 2025, with 18 works resulting from studies conducted by researchers from the center. Among them, Dr. Adrhyann Julyanne de Sousa Portilho, biologist and postdoctoral researcher at the center, presented the work “Diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT compared to 18F-PSMA PET/CT in Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Patients.” “Participating in this moment was an unforgettable and remarkable experience in my trajectory as a researcher. Having the opportunity to share results and represent our group at such an internationally relevant scientific event is undoubtedly a major milestone in my career,” says Portilho.
The following CancerThera researchers also participated in the event: Dr. Allan de Oliveira Santos, nuclear medicine physician and associate researcher; Dr. Celso Dario Ramos, nuclear medicine physician and principal investigator; Dr. Leonardo Lima Fuscaldi, radiopharmacist and associate researcher; and Dr. Luciana Malavolta Quaglio, radiochemist and principal investigator. They presented works addressing topics ranging from comparative studies between different radiopharmaceuticals to the development of new molecules with diagnostic and therapeutic potential.
Several studies compared the performance of ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-PSMA PET/CT in different neoplasms, such as head and neck, lung, thyroid, liver, and colorectal carcinomas, highlighting the potential of PSMA to expand the scope of molecular imaging beyond prostate cancer.
Studies conducted by the group also investigated metabolic variables in FDG PET/CT in rectal cancer, the prognostic value of brain uptake in multiple myeloma, and the application of PSMA in metastatic melanoma and desmoid tumors, including radiomics analyses.
Other studies explored the use of SPECT/CT with ⁹⁹ᵐTc-Ubiquicidin and ⁹⁹ᵐTc-Ciprofloxacin to detect musculoskeletal infections, diabetic ulcers, and complex orthopedic complications, demonstrating the role of Nuclear Medicine beyond Oncology.
In the field of Radiopharmacy, the study entitled “Technetium-99m radiolabeling of HYIGSR peptide for in vivo and ex vivo assessment as a biomarker in breast cancer,” led by Malavolta and Fuscaldi, highlighted technetium-99m radiolabeling of the HYIGSR peptide, proposed as a new biomarker for tracking breast tumors, reinforcing the interface between basic research and clinical innovation.
“From a scientific perspective, the congress provides updates on the latest advances in the development of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy, in addition to technological innovations. Certainly, this immersion in different topics contributes to improving research lines and alignment among CancerThera researchers,” evaluates Malavolta.
According to the researcher, the congress was a privileged space to expand collaborations, representing a strategic opportunity of great scientific and institutional relevance. As the main global event in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, the program covers areas from production to clinical use of radiopharmaceuticals. She highlights how the event encourages the participation of young researchers through financial support, as in the case of two of her students, one a PhD advisee and the other a medical student at the School of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, where she is also a professor.
The presence of CancerThera at the event reaffirms the leading role of Brazilian science in strategic topics such as the theranostic model and precision medicine. “In terms of visibility, the presence of CancerThera researchers at EANM, especially with the presentation of scientific works, opens opportunities for exchange of experiences and collaborations with leading researchers worldwide, industry, and scientific societies, which enhances the development of joint projects and knowledge exchange,” states Malavolta.
Check the list of works presented by CancerThera researchers at EANM 2025:
18F-PSMA and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A comparative Analysis | V. Heringer, H. S. V. Sousa, L. T. Macedo, N. A. A. Silveira, S. Kuba, C. S. P. Lima, C. D. Ramos; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
18F-PSMA PET/CT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of desmoid tumors: A case report | E. Nogueira Lima, M. B. Silva, T. Freire, C. Torricelli, G. Barbosa, T. Alves, V. Heringer, N. Tobar, A. Santos, M. Lima, J. Barreto, M. Etchebehere, E. Etchebehere; University of Campinas, Campinas, BRAZIL.
99mTc-Ubiquicidin SPECT/CT in Diabetic Foot: Detection of Subclinical Infection in a Patient with Chronic Venous Ulcer | V. Heringer, B. Alencar, T. Agnello, M. Osmak, E. Etchebehere, C. Ramos, M. Lima, B. Juarez, A. Santos; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
99mTc-Ubiquicidin SPECT/CT in Suspected Periprosthetic Infection: Case Series in Patients with Complex Orthopedic and Inflammatory Backgrounds | V. Heringer, B. Alencar, T. Agnello, M. Osmak, E. Etchebehere, C. Ramos, M. Lima, B. Amorim, A. Santos; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Comparative Performance of ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-PSMA PET/CT in Lung Cancer: Adenocarcinoma versus Squamous Cell Carcinoma | N. Silveira, M. W. P. Júnior, M. S. Takahashi, S. Kuba, B. J. Amorim, M. d. L. Lima, C. A. Souza, C. S. P. Lima, C. D. Ramos; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Comparison of qualitative and quantitative metabolic variables in FDG PET/CT inrectal cancer patients who achieved complete and incomplete response after neoadjuvantchemoradiotherapy | K. Amaral, R. Moreira Siqueira, C. sa de Camargo, E. Etchebehere, M. CL Lima, A. O Santos, C. D. Ramos, B. Juarez Amorim; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Comparison of qualitative and quantitative metabolic variables in FDG PET/CT inrectal cancer patients who achieved complete and incomplete response after neoadjuvantchemoradiotherapy | K. Amaral, R. Moreira Siqueira, C. sa de Camargo, E. Etchebehere, M. CL Lima, A. O Santos, C. D. Ramos, B. Juarez Amorim; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Diagnostic accuracy of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT compare to 18F-PSMA PET/CT in Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Patients | A. J. S. Portilho, M. O. Cerci, S. Kuba, N. T. T. P. Silva, R. N. Tineo, C. A. de Souza, D. E. Zantut-Wittmann, C. D. Ramos; University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, BRAZIL.
Exploring the potential role of ¹⁸F-FDG and 18F-PSMA PET/CT in detecting neurofibromas: a case report | C. Torricelli, T. Alves, G. Barbosa, M. Silva, E. Nogueira-Lima, V. Heringer, N. Tobar, M. Etchebehere, E. Etchebehere; University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, BRAZIL.
Functional Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Infections with 99mTc-Ciprofloxacin SPECT/CT in Complex Patients Undergoing Limb Amputation: Case Series | V. Heringer, B. Alencar, T. Agnello, M. Osmak, R. Tineo, E. Etchebehere, C. Ramos, M. Lima, B. Amorim, A. Santos; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Head-to-Head Comparison of ¹⁸F-FDG and 18F-PSMA PET/CT in Hepatocellular Carcinoma | G. Picciola Bordoni, M. E. S. Takahashi, F. F. Zarpelão, N. A. A Silveira, V. C. C. R Heringer, S. Kuba, N. Tobar, S. Q. Brunetto, C. A. de Souza, J. B. C. Carvalheira, C. Dario Ramos; Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Head-to-Head Comparison of ¹⁸F-PSMA-1007 and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer | R. Tineo, A. Portilho, F. Zarpelao, J. Carvalheira, C. Ramos; University of Campinas, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Head-to-Head Radiomics Comparison between 18F-PSMA and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT Imaging in Desmoid Tumor | C. D. Ramos, T. L. Reis, M. E. S. Takahashi, B. J. Amorim, M. C. L. Lima, C. A. Souza, J. B. C. Carvalheira; University of Campinas, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Negative 99mTc-Ubiquicidin SPECT/CT in the Evaluation of Suspected Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible in a Patient with Recurrent Tongue Carcinoma | V. Heringer, B. Alencar, T. Agnello, M. Osmak, E. Etchebehere, C. Ramos, M. Lima, B. Amorim, A. Santos; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Pitfall in ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT: Muscular Uptake Does Not Always Mean Inadequate Preparation – A Case Report of Antisynthetase Syndrome | V. Heringer, E. Lima, T. Alves, C. Torricelli, N. Silva, G. Barbosa, E. Etchebehere; UNICAMP, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Prognostic Value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT Brain-to-Liver Uptake Ratio in Multiple Myeloma | C. D. Ramos, T. P. Santos, M. E. S. Takahashi, C. Cralcev, M. D. S. Silva, F. C. Souza, E. Miranda, C. A. Souza; University of Campinas, Campinas, BRAZIL.
PSMA PET/CT uptake in metastatic melanoma: a case report | G. Barbosa, T. Alves, C. Torricelli, L. Macedo, D. Mendanha, H. Sousa, E. Nogueira-Lima, V. Heringer, N. Tobar, J. Sousa, C. Lima, E. Etchebehere; Unicamp, Campinas, BRAZIL.
Technetium-99m radiolabeling of HYIGSR peptide for in vivo and ex vivo assessment as a biomarker in breast cancer | F. Ferreira Mendonça1, M. Tejeria2, P. Decuadra2, M. Zeni2, A. Rey2, S. Nogueira3, J. Mejia3, M. Barboza3, L. Fuscaldi1, L. Malavolta1; 1 Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, BRAZIL, 2Faculty of Chemistry at the University of the Republic, Montevideo, URUGUAY, 3Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, BRAZIL.
The brochure with the final program of the event is available at this link.
Text: Romulo Santana Osthues | Photos: Personal archive
