What it means
Theranostics joins the words therapy and diagnostics. It uses one target in the body, such as a protein on cancer cells, for both a scan and a treatment. First, a low dose of a radioactive tracer that seeks the target shows on a scan whether the tumor carries it. If it does, a closely related drug carrying a stronger dose of radiation is given to treat the tumor from the inside.
When it matters
The scan helps predict whether the treatment will reach the tumor. In advanced prostate cancer, a PSMA PET scan can lead to Lu-177 PSMA treatment. In neuroendocrine tumors, a DOTATATE PET can lead to Lu-177 DOTATATE. The oldest example is radioactive iodine, used for some thyroid cancers and an overactive thyroid. A report saying findings are favorable is not a treatment decision. A specialist team also weighs your other scans, blood tests and overall health.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Does my scan show enough uptake for this kind of treatment?
- Are there any tumors that did not take up the tracer?
- Which scans will show whether the treatment is working?
