CAIX PET (89Zr-girentuximab)
CAIX PET is a scan using an antibody against a protein almost unique to clear-cell kidney cancer, to tell cancer from benign kidney lumps without a biopsy.
Overview
CAIX PET uses 89Zr-labelled girentuximab, an antibody against carbonic anhydrase IX, a HIF target expressed in more than 95% of clear-cell renal cell carcinomas because of VHL loss. Imaging 5 days after injection shows whether an indeterminate renal mass is clear-cell cancer without a biopsy. In the ZIRCON phase 3 (2023) it achieved sensitivity 86% and specificity 87%, giving histology-level specificity and whole-body staging in one scan. Telix's TLX250-CDx received an FDA complete response letter in 2025 over manufacturing, and resubmission is planned, so it is not yet approved; the five-day imaging delay and the 89Zr dose are practical limitations. The same antibody labelled with 177Lu is being tested therapeutically in the STARLITE trials, making CAIX a theranostic pair. It tells cancer from a benign kidney lump by lighting up a protein almost unique to clear-cell kidney cancer.
How it works
89Zr-labelled anti-CAIX antibody girentuximab imaged 5 days after injection; CAIX is a HIF target expressed in >95% of clear-cell RCC via VHL loss.
- Non-invasive histology-level specificity
- Whole-body staging of clear-cell disease
- Five-day imaging delay; 89Zr dose
- Not yet approved (CRL 2025)
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"CAIX PET" OR ABSTRACT:"CAIX PET" OR TITLE:"89Zr-girentuximab" OR ABSTRACT:"89Zr-girentuximab") AND (radiopharmaceutical OR radioligand OR radionuclide OR theranostic OR "nuclear medicine" OR "molecular imaging" OR radiotracer OR scintigraphy OR cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about CAIX PET (89Zr-girentuximab), not a curated reading list.
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