Theranostics
What is theranostics?
Theranostics is a precision medicine approach to care that combines “therapy” and “diagnostics” in its name and in practice. The treatment uses the same targeting system to both find disease (diagnostics) in the body and treat it (therapy) using radiopharmaceuticals. By delivering radiation directly to diseased cells, it treats disease more precisely, minimizes damage to healthy tissue and results in few, if any, side effects.
Theranostics is changing science and changing lives. An example of precision cancer care, theranostics provides next-generation treatments based on breakthrough research. The field of theranostics continues to grow as more research comes to light through clinical trials. In the future, it will have more applications in the world of cancer treatment and it may be applicable to other conditions and diseases.
How does theranostics work?
Alexis Del Cid, Medical News Network:
"How do you describe theranostics to patients? And what excites you most about it?"
Jeffrey Holzbeierlein, MD, FACS, urologic oncology, physician in chief, The University of Kansas Cancer Center:
"Yeah, I mean, I do think sometimes it's difficult to describe theranostics, and Dr. Wulff described it a little bit. But I think most simply, everybody's probably familiar with a PET scan. So, a PET scan is a scan that really helps us detect cancer cells, any kind of cancer cells, pretty much anywhere in the body. Now think about a scan that can detect a specific or certain type of cancer in the body, and once you're able to image it or detect it, then you can attach a molecule that can also treat it. And that's really how I sort of describe theranostics."
Theranostics therapies
The next major advancement in the treatment and diagnoses of cancer, we currently offer 2 FDA-approved theranostic therapies:
- Lutathera® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) is a radioisotope therapy used in theranostics that is targeted for cancers affecting the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. The FDA approved Lutathera in January 2018. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is one of the first in the region to offer this advanced treatment.
- Pluvicto® (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) is a targeted therapy for metastatic (widespread) prostate cancer. It is the first FDA-approved targeted radioligand therapy available for PSMA-positive metastatic hormone-resistant (also known as castrate-resistant) prostate cancer. The University of Kansas Cancer Center was the first cancer center in the region to offer an innovative prostate cancer treatment for men with metastatic prostate cancer.
Theranostics and the future of treatments
Announcer's voice over video:
"Theranostics is where therapy and diagnostics come together. First, doctors find your disease, then treat that specific target. It's mostly being used for cancer, but the possibilities are endless. There's hope for heart disease and neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Theranostics is being studied for applications in arthritis and infectious diseases. It might even be used in transplants, detecting early organ rejection and guiding localized therapies. All of this is exciting for doctors and researchers, but the bottom line is what it means for patients."
More options, more hope
Many new therapies are available through clinical trials. Find out how you may benefit from a clinical trial, and what it can do for others.
Why choose us
The University of Kansas Cancer Center is an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the National Cancer Institute and is the gold standard for cancer centers. Because we are 1 of fewer than 60 comprehensive cancer centers nationwide, our patients are cared for by the world’s leading cancer experts who have access to many clinical trials.
At the cancer center, writing new cancer success stories with our patients is our first priority. We specialize in caring for patients with the most complex conditions and provide next-generation treatments from breakthrough research. Providing first-in-the-world therapies attracts patients from around the region and across the country.
NCI Designation
Our cancer center is 1 of fewer than 60 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationwide. 
Clinical Trials
We are a pioneer in new clinical trial research that leads to innovative treatments. 
Still the Best
Our hospital continues to rank as the best in Kansas City and in Kansas
according to U.S. News & World Report. Start your path today.
Your journey to health starts here. Call 913-588-1227 or request an appointment at The University of Kansas Cancer Center.