Molecular Imaging-Guided Radiation Oncology: Synergies Between PET, External Beam Therapy, and Radioligand Therapy

In recent years, precision medicine has transformed the way oncological therapies are planned and delivered. PET imaging has emerged as a pivotal tool for the functional and molecular characterization of tumors, enabling more accurate target definition and sensitive response assessment. At the same time, both external beam radiotherapy and systemic radioligand therapies have advanced towards increasingly personalized treatment approaches. The integration of molecular imaging with radiation-based therapies now represents a strategic point of convergence, where PET is no longer solely diagnostic but serves as a central guide in therapeutic decision-making. This synergy opens new avenues in the multimodal management of cancer, combining biological insight with therapeutic precision and supporting the shift towards individualized radiation oncology.

This Research Topic aims to highlight the clinical and translational value of integrating PET imaging with both external beam and systemic radiation therapies. We seek to showcase advances in PET-guided treatment planning, adaptive radiotherapy, and the development of novel radiotracers with therapeutic relevance. The focus is on strategies that align diagnostic precision with treatment accuracy, supporting more personalized and biologically informed approaches to cancer care. We welcome contributions about technical developments, clinical implementation, dosimetric optimization, and imaging biomarkers with potential impact on patient outcomes. By drawing insights from nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, radiology, and medical physics, this Topic encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and aims to advance the role of molecular imaging in guiding modern radiation-based therapies.

This Research Topic invites contributions exploring the integration of PET imaging with radiation-based therapies, both local and systemic, in oncology. We are particularly interested in original research and reviews focusing on PET-guided radiotherapy planning, radioligand therapies, novel radiotracers, imaging biomarkers, and advancements in dosimetry and treatment adaptation. Submissions addressing technological developments, translational frameworks, or the clinical implementation of molecular imaging in radiotherapy pathways are highly encouraged.

We also welcome methodological papers, proof-of-concept studies, and well-designed clinical trials that provide new insights into the role of PET in supporting personalized and biologically driven radiation oncology. Interdisciplinary approaches that combine nuclear medicine, medical physics, radiation oncology, and radiology are strongly supported. The aim is to provide a platform for high-impact work that advances knowledge and fosters collaboration in this evolving field.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: PET imaging, Molecular imaging, Theranostics, Radioligand therapy, External beam radiotherapy, Image-guided radiotherapy, Radiopharmaceuticals, Target delineation Dosimetry, Personalized radiation oncology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.