• Martina A McAteer, Daniel R McGowan, CookGary J RGJR0000-0002-8732-8134School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' PET Centre, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK., Hing Y Leung, Tony Ng, O'ConnorJames P BJPB0000-0002-4044-8497Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK., Luigi Aloj, Anna Barnes, Phil J Blower, Kevin M Brindle, John Braun, Craig Buckley, Daniel Darian, Paul Evans, Vicky Goh, David Grainger, Carol Green, Matt G Hall, Thomas A Harding, HinesCatherine D GCDGGSK, Collegeville, PA, USA., Simon J Hollingsworth, Penny L Hubbard Cristinacce, Rowland O Illing, Martin Lee, Baptiste Leurent, Sue Mallett, Radhouene Neji, Natalia Norori, Nora Pashayan, Neel Patel, Kieran Prior, Thomas Reiner, Adam Retter, Alasdair Taylor, Jasper van der Aart, Joseph Woollcott, Wai-Lup Wong, Jan van der Meulen, Shonit Punwani, and Geoff S Higgins.
• Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. martina.mcateer@oncology.ox.ac.uk.
• Bmc Med. 2025 Jan 23; 23 (1): 3737.

BackgroundThe clinical translation of positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for cancer management presents complex challenges. We have developed consensus-based recommendations for preclinical and clinical assessment of novel and established radiotracers, applied to image different cancer types, to improve the standardisation of translational methodologies and accelerate clinical implementation.MethodsA consensus process was developed using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) to gather insights from a multidisciplinary panel of 38 key stakeholders on the appropriateness of preclinical and clinical methodologies and stakeholder engagement for PET radiotracer translation. Panellists independently completed a consensus survey of 57 questions, rating each on a 9-point Likert scale. Subsequently, panellists attended a consensus meeting to discuss survey outcomes and readjust scores independently if desired. Survey items with median scores ≥ 7 were considered 'required/appropriate', ≤ 3 'not required/inappropriate', and 4-6 indicated 'uncertainty remained'. Consensus was determined as ~ 70% participant agreement on whether the item was 'required/appropriate' or 'not required/not appropriate'.ResultsConsensus was achieved for 38 of 57 (67%) survey questions related to preclinical and clinical methodologies, and stakeholder engagement. For evaluating established radiotracers in new cancer types, in vitro and preclinical studies were considered unnecessary, clinical pharmacokinetic studies were considered appropriate, and clinical dosimetry and biodistribution studies were considered unnecessary, if sufficient previous data existed. There was 'agreement without consensus' that clinical repeatability and reproducibility studies are required while 'uncertainty remained' regarding the need for comparison studies. For novel radiotracers, in vitro and preclinical studies, such as dosimetry and/or biodistribution studies and tumour histological assessment were considered appropriate, as well as comprehensive clinical validation. Conversely, preclinical reproducibility studies were considered unnecessary and 'uncertainties remained' regarding preclinical pharmacokinetic and repeatability evaluation. Other consensus areas included standardisation of clinical study protocols, streamlined regulatory frameworks and patient and public involvement. While a centralised UK clinical imaging research infrastructure and open access federated data repository were considered necessary, there was 'agreement without consensus' regarding the requirement for a centralised UK preclinical imaging infrastructure.ConclusionsWe provide consensus-based recommendations, emphasising streamlined methodologies and regulatory frameworks, together with active stakeholder engagement, for improving PET radiotracer standardisation, reproducibility and clinical implementation in oncology.© 2025. The Author(s).

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