CT-Based Biomarker Improves Gastric Cancer Prognosis; PET Imaging Market Grows; Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Advances
Brazilian researchers developed a CT-based biomarker called VMD that combines visceral fat and muscle radiodensity to predict gastric cancer prognosis, with patient survival ranging from 13.8 to 58.5 months. The global PET imaging market is projected to grow to $1.4 billion by 2032 as cancer cases rise globally. Neuroendocrine tumor research is advancing with new funding and studies on Hedgehog signaling pathways.
Researchers at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil have identified a new biomarker, called VMD, that may help determine the prognosis for patients with gastric cancer. The marker combines data on the radiodensity of visceral fat and muscle from routine CT scans, distinguishing patients at higher risk of unfavorable disease progression. The study analyzed data from 461 gastric cancer patients treated at UNICAMP over nearly ten years, with results published in the journal Clinical Nutrition Espen.
In the study, higher radiodensity values for adipose tissue were linked to a worse prognosis, while higher values for muscle were linked to a more favorable outcome. Patients with the worst VMD indicators had a median survival of 13.8 months, compared to 58.5 months for those with lower VMD values. The researchers stated the VMD marker may complement traditional tumor staging in the future, paving the way for a more personalized treatment approach.
This focus on individualized patient assessment aligns with broader trends in oncology. The World Health Organization projects that global cancer cases will exceed 35 million by 2050, a 77% increase compared to 2022 levels. In the United States alone, researchers projected 2,041,910 new cancer cases and 618,120 cancer deaths for 2025. These figures are driving modernization of diagnostic infrastructure, with PET imaging becoming a critical component.
PET imaging evaluates how tissues and organs function at a cellular and metabolic level using radioactive tracers, most commonly fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). This allows physicians to identify biological activity before structural changes appear on conventional imaging. Global revenue for the positron emission tomography market is projected to grow from USD 1,130.0 million in 2025 to USD 1,447.4 million by 2032, a CAGR of 3.61%.
Beyond cancer diagnosis and staging, PET imaging is expanding into neurology for Alzheimer’s disease evaluation, cardiology for heart tissue assessment, precision medicine research, and theranostics for targeted treatment planning. This reflects a shift in oncology toward value-based care models and infrastructure that supports personalized treatment decisions throughout the patient journey.
In other areas of oncology research, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are gaining more attention despite being historically understudied. The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) provides Investigator Award grants to support research in this field. Recent work has highlighted the role of Hedgehog signaling in NET tumors and immunosenescence, with findings slated for publication in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
The advances in both prognostic biomarkers and imaging technologies represent the ongoing evolution of precision medicine in oncology, where treatment decisions are increasingly informed by molecular diagnostics, functional imaging, and individual patient characteristics rather than tumor staging alone.