Theranostics: Spot it, Stop it

Introduction 

Medical technology continues to improve, leading to better ways of diagnosing and treating diseases. One of the emerging approaches and continuous advancements rooted in nuclear medicine is theranostics, an approach that combines diagnosis and treatment into one process. The term comes from the words therapy and diagnostics. Theranostics is mainly used in cancer care to help doctors identify tumors and deliver treatment more accurately. 

How Does It Work?

Theranostics uses special substances called radiopharmaceuticals, which contain small amounts of radioactive material. These substances are designed to target specific cancer cells in the body. Once injected into the bloodstream, they travel through the body and attach to tumor cells. For diagnosis, the radiopharmaceutical emits signals that can be detected by imaging machines such as PET or SPECT scanners. This helps doctors locate the tumor and understand the disease. For treatment, a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical delivers radiation directly to the cancer cells to damage or destroy them while causing less harm to nearby healthy tissues.

Benefits and Risks

Theranostics offers many benefits in cancer care. It provides personalized treatment by helping doctors determine if a patient is suitable for targeted therapy. It also improves precision because treatment is directed mainly at cancer cells instead of the entire body. Another advantage is real-time monitoring, which allows doctors to track how well the treatment is working over time.

Although theranostics is generally safe, some risks and side effects may still occur. Patients may experience temporary fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, or mild discomfort, depending on the treatment used. Since radiation is involved, strict safety measures are followed to protect both patients and healthcare workers.

Recent Advancements

Recent advancements have made theranostics even more promising. New PET imaging agents, aside from the commonly used Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), have improved the detection of different types of cancer more accurately. In treatment, radioligand therapies targeting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and Somatostatin Receptors (SSTR) have already improved care for patients with prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. Researchers are also studying newer radioactive materials with stronger therapeutic effects, such as Terbium-161, which has shown better treatment potential compared to Lutetium-177 in some studies, and alpha emitters such as Astatine-211. In addition, new tumor targets such as TROP-2, Nectin-4, LAT1, GPC-1, and EphA2 are being explored, which could allow theranostics to treat more cancers in the future.

Conclusion

Theranostics is an important advancement in modern medicine because it combines diagnosis and treatment in one targeted approach. By making cancer care more personalized, precise, and effective, it improves patient care and treatment outcomes. As technology continues to advance, theranostics is expected to play an even greater role in the future of healthcare.

References

Burkett, B. J., Bartlett, D. J., McGarrah, P. W., Lewis, A. R., Johnson, D. R., Berberoğlu, K., Pandey, M. K., Packard, A. T., Halfdanarson, T. R., Hruska, C. B., Johnson, G. B., & Kendi, A. T. (2023). A Review of Theranostics: Perspectives on Emerging Approaches and Clinical Advancements. Radiology. Imaging Cancer, 5(4), e220157. https://doi.org/10.1148/rycan.220157

Mirshahvalad, S. A., Beheshti, M., Metser, U., Jiang, D. M., Wong, R., Alrekhais, I., & Veit-Haibach, P. (2025). Theranostic: A Primer for Radiologists. Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/08465371251338032

Viana, A. F., & Cannarozzo, E. (2026). Theranostics Explained: A Personalized Approach to Cancer Care. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 67(4), 494–495. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.125.271895