The Emergence of Theranostics in the NHS
Theranostics is a revolutionary "search and destroy" approach that combines a diagnostic test with a therapeutic drug. The term is a portmanteau of therapy and diagnostics. In the UK, this is becoming a standard for treating advanced prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.
The process involves two steps: first, a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical is used to see if the tumor has specific "receptors." If the scan shows the drug has successfully latched onto the cancer, a second, more powerful radioactive drug (like Lutetium-177) is administered. This "therapeutic" version uses the same targeting molecule but carries a radioactive payload designed to kill the cancer cells from the inside, sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
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