SNMMI Clinical Trials Network Research Series for Technologists: An Introduction to Conducting Theranostic Clinical Trials

Abstract

CE credit: For CE credit, you can access the test for this article, as well as additional JNMT CE tests, online at https://www.snmmilearningcenter.org. Complete the test online no later than March 2027. Your online test will be scored immediately. You may make 3 attempts to pass the test and must answer 80% of the questions correctly to receive 1.0 CEH (Continuing Education Hour) credit. SNMMI members will have their CEH credit added to their VOICE transcript automatically; nonmembers will be able to print out a CE certificate upon successfully completing the test. The online test is free to SNMMI members; nonmembers must pay $15.00 by credit card when logging onto the website to take the test.This article is intended to introduce nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) to the nuances of radiopharmaceutical therapy clinical trials. Here, we outline the potential roles and responsibilities of the NMT in clinical trials and provide context on different aspects of radionuclide therapy. The regulatory process involving investigational therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals is seldom taught to NMT students, nor is it included in the entry-level nuclear medicine certification examinations. Often, NMTs must spend significant time preparing for therapeutic clinical trials on their own, using multiple academic sources, seeking advice from various health care professionals, and reviewing numerous trial-specific manuals to recognize the detailed requirements. The emergence of theranostics has spurred an increase in the development of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Investigators with a robust nuclear medicine background are required to help develop successful therapeutic clinical trials, and well-informed NMTs are crucial to the success of such trials. This article follows a series of previous publications from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Clinical Trials Network research series for technologists and is intended to guide the investigational radiopharmaceutical landscape.