Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (Theranostics)
Precision Cancer Treatment That Delivers Radiation Directly to Cancer Cells
Cancer treatment is becoming more personalized than ever before. Radiopharmaceutical therapy — also known as theranostics — is an advanced form of targeted treatment that combines specialized imaging with precision radiation delivery to help identify and treat certain cancers at the cellular level.
At New Mexico Cancer Center, we offer advanced radiopharmaceutical therapies designed to target cancer cells throughout the body while helping limit exposure to healthy tissue.
For some patients, radiopharmaceutical therapy may provide an option when cancer has spread, returned, or is no longer responding to traditional treatments alone.
What Is Radiopharmaceutical Therapy?
Radiopharmaceutical therapy uses specially designed medications that combine:
- A targeting molecule that seeks out specific cancer cells
- A radioactive component that delivers treatment directly to those cells
These therapies travel through the bloodstream and attach to cancer cells wherever they are located in the body. Once attached, the radiation works to damage or destroy the cancer cells while minimizing impact on surrounding healthy tissue.
This highly targeted approach is why radiopharmaceutical therapy is often referred to as “precision medicine.”
What Is Theranostics?
Theranostics combines two important steps into one personalized treatment strategy:
- Specialized imaging to identify whether a cancer expresses certain targets
- Targeted radiopharmaceutical treatment designed specifically for those targets
This allows physicians to better determine which patients may benefit from therapy before treatment even begins.
Conditions Commonly Treated
Radiopharmaceutical therapies are used for select cancers, including:
- Prostate cancer
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Certain metastatic cancers
- Bone metastases causing cancer-related pain
Treatment recommendations depend on the type of cancer, molecular imaging results, prior treatments, and overall health.
Benefits of Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
Radiopharmaceutical therapy may offer several advantages for eligible patients, including:
- Highly targeted treatment delivery
- Ability to treat cancer cells throughout the body
- Precision treatment based on tumor biology
- Potential symptom relief and disease control
- Outpatient treatment for many therapies
Because treatment is targeted at the molecular level, radiopharmaceutical therapy can sometimes reach cancer cells that may be difficult to treat with surgery or traditional localized radiation alone.
What to Expect During Treatment
Before treatment, patients typically undergo specialized imaging to determine whether the cancer is a good match for therapy.
Treatment itself is usually administered through an IV infusion in an outpatient setting. Depending on the specific therapy, patients may receive treatment over multiple visits spaced weeks apart.
Our team carefully monitors patients throughout the process and works closely with referring physicians to coordinate care.
Advanced Cancer Care Close to Home
At New Mexico Cancer Center, we are committed to bringing advanced cancer treatment options to patients throughout New Mexico. Our multidisciplinary team works together to evaluate every patient individually and recommend therapies tailored to their diagnosis and goals.
Radiopharmaceutical therapy represents a new generation of targeted cancer treatment — combining imaging, precision medicine, and radiation oncology in a highly personalized approach to care.
The Health Specialists of New Mexico building in Albuquerque provides patients with convenient access to advanced specialty and cancer care close to home.
Learn More About Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an advanced or metastatic cancer, radiopharmaceutical therapy may be an option worth exploring.