New imaging method tracks cancer from whole body to individual cells
Scientists have developed a new multimodal imaging technique that allows for the simultaneous tracking of tumors at both a whole-body level and a microscopic cellular level. This breakthrough aims to improve cancer diagnosis and the precision of patient treatments.
Why it matters
This technology bridges the gap between macro-level medical scans and micro-level biological analysis, potentially leading to more effective cancer therapies.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Multimodal imaging of tumor progression in lung cancer. Credit: Nature Biotechnology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03184-3 One of the biggest challenges in cancer research has been linking the "big picture" seen in medical scans with the microscopic biology that drives tumor growth and dictates how patients respond to treatment. Now, by combining multiple imaging techniques (PET scans, bioluminescence and fluorescence), scientists can detect tumors across the whole body simultaneously, pinpoint key targets and then examine those tumors in detail, including the surrounding cells and tissue.
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