Why Choose Us for Theranostics Treatment
Huntsman Cancer Institute is a national leader in theranostics, a groundbreaking form of precision medicine that uses targeted radioactive drugs to both find and treat cancer. For more than 20 years, Huntsman Cancer Institute has operated a state-of-the-art to develop and produce novel radioactive drugs across Utah and the Mountain West.
In theranostics, radioactive drugs called radioligands are used to locate cancer using PET scans and deliver targeted radiation to kill cancer cells. This precise and personalized treatment reduces the risk of damage to nearby healthy tissue and can extend the length and quality of life for patients with certain types of cancer.
Our Expertise
Huntsman Cancer Institute was the first center in the United States to treat a patient with brain cancer using a novel theranostic drug, and our team continues to be nationally recognized for being at the cutting edge of theranostics.
Our expert, multidisciplinary team includes medical oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, radiation oncologists, radiopharmacists, physicists, radiation safety specialists, and more to provide patients with comprehensive, personalized theranostic treatment plans.
Patient Care Philosophy
We believe no one should face cancer alone. Our dedicated and world-renowned doctors, nurses, and medical staff are at the forefront of patient-centered care. We treat the whole person, not just their cancer.
Each day, our medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists work together across disciplines to create and coordinate treatment plans for every patient. We understand cancer is a complex disease. That is why we use a team approach that includes social workers and support groups, as well as wellness and integrative health services such as acupuncture, massage, creative arts, and more.
Find a Theranostics Specialist
Theranostics Research
Huntsman Cancer Institute is at the forefront of theranostics research, contributing to many international and national clinical trials and ongoing groundbreaking research into new radioligand drugs.
Our clinical trials offer patients access to emerging treatments, often before they become widely available.
Clinical Trials
Make an Appointment for a Theranostics Evaluation
If you or your health care team would like to explore theranostic treatment or clinical trials, please submit a consultation request. One of our patient schedulers will reach out to schedule the appointment.
Our team will verify your insurance coverage and determine whether a referral is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Theranostics
What is Theranostics?
Theranostics is the combination of therapy and diagnostics. In this powerful combined approach, radioactive drugs are used to both identify and treat cancer. This one-two punch approach allows us to visualize where the cancer is and then deliver therapy directly to those sites, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
How Does Theranostics Work?
- 1. Diagnostic Injection
- 2. PET Scan
- 3. Consultation
- 4. Review
- 5. Targeted Treatment
- 6. Recovery
1. Diagnostic Injection
First you鈥檒l receive an intravenous (IV) injection of a radioactive drug, which travels through the body and accumulates in cancer cells.
2. PET Scan
Next, doctors use a PET scan, which detects the radiation emitted by the drug and creates detailed images that help doctors locate tumors.
3. Consultation
As part of your evaluation, you鈥檒l meet with a medical oncologist to discuss your medical history, lab results, and imaging studies. This consultation helps determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
4. Review
Our expert Theranostics Treatment Planning team will review all findings as a group and recommend next steps based on your individual case.
5. Targeted Treatment
If treatment is advised, you鈥檒l receive an outpatient infusion of a radioligand drug designed to deliver targeted radiation to destroy the cancer cells. Radioligands are made up of two parts: a ligand, which finds cancer cells, and a radioactive component, which delivers a precise dose of radiation to destroy them.
6. Recovery
The radiation will clear from your body, mainly through the urine, in a few days.
What Cancers Can Be Treated with a Theranostics Approach?
Theranostics has proven to be effective in treating thyroid cancer, neuroendocrine tumors (NETS), and prostate cancer and is a standard of care for these diseases.
Clinical trials for theranostics to treat brain, breast, lung, renal, pancreatic, and other cancers are underway at Huntsman Cancer Institute and other cancer centers.
