Glenda receiving theranostics treatment

Oncology

Theranostics: A cancer patient's perspective

When Glenda was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors, her treatment options seemed limited. Learn how theranostics turned her life-threatening illness into a manageable, chronic condition, offering her a new path forward.

Sophie Gräf

Published on November 25, 2024

For more than 15 years, 61-year-old Glenda suffered from severe, recurring abdominal pain. After repeated visits at doctors' offices and emergency rooms, a CT scan finally revealed the diagnosis: Glenda had neuroendocrine tumors.

Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) develop from neuroendocrine cells, which produce hormones in response to nerve signals. These tumors can occur in various organs, including the lungs, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. With an incidence rate of 6.98 per 100,000 people[1], NETs are relatively rare in the United States.

Glenda’s personalized cancer treatment

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a rare cancer that requires a highly specialized team with extensive experience to diagnose and treat. Given Glenda’s disease burden and the progression of tumors that were difficult to surgically remove, she turned to the team at Nebraska Cancer Specialists (NCS) for personalized therapy and seamlessly coordinated care during her theranostics treatment.

Theranostics, a combination of “therapy” and “diagnostics”, is an approach within personalized medicine that uses radioactive drugs both to diagnose and treat specific cancer types. This method pairs diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers to different radiotracers targeting the same tumor. Both the diagnostic and therapeutic radiotracers attach to the same specific biological markers. Physicians use molecular imaging modalities like PET/CT to identify who is eligible for theranostics and SPECT/CT during a patient’s theranostics treatment.

By injecting a small amount of radioactive tracer into the body that specifically binds to cancer cells, these imaging modalities allow physicians to “see” exactly where the cancer is located, as the tracer lights up areas containing cancer cells. Once the cancer cells have been localized, a therapeutic drug is administered that travels directly to them, delivering targeted radiation. This “see what you treat and treat what you see” approach allows delivering radiation precisely where it’s needed while minimizing harm to healthy tissue.

What is molecular imaging?

Molecular imaging is a technique that allows doctors to visualize and measure biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels within the body to highlight specific cellular functions, such as how cells interact with particular molecules. This approach often uses special imaging agents, known as "tracers", which are injected into the body and bind to specific cells or molecules.

Samuel Mehr, MD, director of Nuclear Oncology at NCS, and Glenda discuss results of the theranostics treatment.

A single point of contact for cancer patients

A successful theranostics treatment demands a well-coordinated, patient-centered approach. At NCS, Marlene Bridwell, Registered Nurse, fulfills this need as theranostics nurse case manager, serving as the primary point of contact for patients. Marlene Bridwell oversees each step of the treatment and ensures that patients understand and feel supported in their treatment journey. “My role is to make sure patients get what they need, when they need it,” she explains.

“Marlene’s role is critical for a seamless and successful theranostics program,” Samuel Mehr, MD, director of Nuclear Oncology at NCS says. “Without someone doing what she does, treatments become chaotic for no other reason than poor communication.”

Theranostic treatment has allowed Glenda to regain control of her life, enabling her to work full-time, enjoy her family, and experience symptom-free days she once thought impossible. “On the last day of my treatment, Dr. Mehr told me that he has every reason to believe this is working beautifully for me, but if it doesn’t, there are lots of other things we can do,” Glenda says. “I have complete faith in them."

Do you want to know more about theranostics?

Theranostics for personalized cancer care

By Sophie Gräf

Sophie Gräf is an editor at Siemens Healthineers.

© Photography: Maria Julie Borer

[1] Dasari, Arvind et al. “Trends in the Incidence, Prevalence, and Survival Outcomes in Patients With Neuroendocrine Tumors in the United States.” JAMA oncology vol. 3,10 (2017): 1335-1342. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.0589

The statements by customers of Siemens Healthineers described herein are based on results that were achieved in the customer's unique setting. Because there is no “typical” hospital or laboratory and many variables exist (e.g., hospital size, samples mix, case mix, level of IT and/or automation adoption) there can be no guarantee that other customers will achieve the same results.