Theranostics: Diagnosis and Therapy, Combined
At Salinas Valley Oncology, we specialize in theranostics, an innovative approach that combines diagnostics and therapy to target cancer cells with precision. Our advanced techniques allow us to personalize treatment plans, maximizing effectiveness while minimizing side effects.
Theranostics is one of the most exciting frontiers in cancer medicine. The name combines "therapy" and "diagnostics" — a single approach in which the same molecular target used to find cancer cells on imaging is then used to deliver treatment directly to those cells.
How It Works
First, a diagnostic scan uses a molecule that binds specifically to receptors on the surface of cancer cells, showing precisely where disease is located anywhere in the body. Then, the same targeting molecule is paired with a therapeutic radioactive particle, delivering treatment straight to the cancer cells while largely sparing healthy tissue.
Who Can Benefit
Theranostic approaches are currently used for selected cancers — most notably certain advanced prostate cancers and neuroendocrine tumors — and the field is expanding rapidly. We evaluate whether a theranostic approach is appropriate for your diagnosis and coordinate access to treatment when it is.
Personalized by Design
Because treatment is guided by your own scan results, theranostics is inherently personalized: we can see whether your cancer expresses the target before treating, maximizing effectiveness while minimizing side effects.
Theranostics services include
- Molecular imaging evaluation
- Candidacy assessment for targeted radionuclide therapy
- Coordination of PSMA-based prostate cancer therapy
- Neuroendocrine tumor therapy coordination
- Integration with your overall treatment plan
- Follow-up imaging and monitoring