The city of Benito Juárez, Mexico, hosted the 30th Congress of the Latin American Association of Societies of Biology and Nuclear Medicine (ALASBIMN) from March 13 to 16, 2025. The event brought together experts from various countries to discuss advances in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, solidifying itself as one of the most important scientific forums in these fields in Latin America.
CEPID CancerThera researchers had a strong presence at the congress, presenting scientific papers and contributing to panels and strategic debates. Moreover, the event marked a significant achievement for Brazilian Nuclear Medicine: Brazil was selected to host the ALASBIMN Congress in 2028, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil to host the ALASBIMN Congress in 2028
The Brazilian proposal was presented by Dr. Elba Etchebehere, a nuclear physician, professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the State University of Campinas, president of the Brazilian Society of Nuclear Medicine (SBMN), and principal investigator at CancerThera, alongside the vice president of SBMN, Dr. Paulo Almeida Filho, a nuclear physician and professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco. The candidacy received unanimous support from the eight ALASBIMN member countries, highlighting Brazil’s importance in the Latin American Nuclear Medicine landscape.
The expectation is that the Brazilian edition of the congress will attract a record number of participants, further establishing the country as a reference in the specialty and enhancing the internationalization of national research. “Promoting Brazil as a host for international congresses is a priority for the new SBMN Executive Board for the 2025-2026 term. Strengthening the country’s visibility and global integration in Nuclear Medicine is essential for expanding knowledge exchange and consolidating strategic partnerships,” emphasizes Etchebehere, who was elected president of ALASBIMN during the event’s assembly, assuming the position at the end of the 31st edition of the congress, to be held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, in 2026.
“Holding the ALASBIMN congress in Brazil will strengthen this connection and undoubtedly benefit CancerThera, allowing our researchers to present their investigation advances on the international stage,” adds the researcher.
Scientific presentations and overview of the 2025 edition
In addition to securing the 2028 congress location, the event in Mexico was a crucial platform for disseminating research conducted by Brazilian scientists. Etchebehere represented CancerThera’s clinical research group, which submitted studies with significant findings to the event.
Among the studies presented as posters were the following titles: (1) “Comparison between 18F-PSMA and 18F-FDG radiotracers for PET/CT in evaluating patients with Metastatic Melanoma”; (2) “Applicability of PSMA PET/CT in the Evaluation of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma”; (3) “Comparison of a sarcoma patient’s images with FDG PET/CT and PSMA PET/CT”; (4) “PSMA PET/CT for detecting brain metastasis in esophageal cancer: a case report”; and (5) “18F-Fluoride PET/CT vs 18F-PSMA-1007 to detect bone metastases in prostate cancer – a head-to-head prospective comparison.”
Another investigation from our center was highlighted at ALASBIMN 2025, this time conducted by the preclinical research group. Titled “Peptides exhibiting affinity towards receptors overexpressed in neoplasms: potential theranostic radiopharmaceuticals?”, the study was presented by Dr. Luciana Malavolta Quaglio, a specialist in Radiochemistry, professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, and principal investigator at CancerThera.
Malavolta’s research focuses on the synthesis and radiolabeling of peptide compounds targeting EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) and integrin receptors, which are frequently overexpressed in various tumor types. The study involves solid-phase peptide synthesis, modified with two different spacers and the chelating agent DOTA, enabling the insertion of the yttrium-86 radionuclide in this study. This process allows for a more targeted and specific delivery of the radionuclide to cancers expressing these receptors, making it a potential therapeutic target for applications in Nuclear Medicine.
Malavolta reaffirmed the importance of the event for knowledge exchange and innovation in the field, as well as the interaction among participants and the creation of new opportunities for scientific collaboration. “It was highly productive. Brazil’s selection as the host country for the 2028 event was a major highlight, extremely important for us. I also emphasize the diversity of lectures, particularly on the use of Artificial Intelligence and continuing education in Nuclear Medicine,” she stated.
Dr. Fábio Luiz Navarro Marques, a specialist in Radiopharmacy, participated in a conference within the preclinical and translational research module, presenting the lecture “Radiolabeling of nanoparticles, from planning to practice.” During his talk, he emphasized the need for standardizing the production and regulation processes of radiopharmaceuticals in Latin America. “The main demand was the need for harmonizing protocols or requirements for the production and registration of radiopharmaceuticals across various Latin American countries,” he commented.
He also highlighted the importance of scientific collaboration between countries in the region. “The sessions showcased the main research efforts in developing radiopharmaceuticals and labeled molecules, particularly in countries like Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, which lead the initiatives in this field,” added Marques, who is a researcher at the Nuclear Medicine Center of the Institute of Radiology at the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo’s School of Medicine and an associate researcher at CancerThera.
Text: Romulo Santana Osthues with information from SBMN | Photos: Personal collection
