For nearly 30 years, Michael Quinn, MD, has watched nuclear medicine evolve – from a niche specialty to a powerful tool in diagnosing and treating disease. But the latest chapter, known as theranostics, marks a turning point.
“This is where diagnosis and treatment come together,” says Dr. Quinn, Spectrum radiologist and division director of nuclear medicine at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland. “It’s an exciting, fast-moving field – and thanks to strong collaboration across our teams, patients in Maine are already seeing the benefits.”
How Does Theranostics Work?
Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive materials, called radiopharmaceuticals, to diagnose, monitor, or treat diseases.
Patients are typically given a radiopharmaceutical, usually by injection, which travels through the body and accumulates in specific organs or tissues. A special camera then detects the radiation to create images that show how the organ is functioning.
“We now use the same or related compound to both identify and treat cancer,” says Dr. Quinn. “That’s the heart of theranostics. We’ve used it for decades in thyroid cancer, but now we’re rapidly expanding it – both in the types of cancer we treat and how we apply it. We pinpoint the disease, target it directly, and track progress with remarkable accuracy.”
What Cancers Can Theranostics Treat?
The earliest use of theranostics for thyroid cancer dates back to the 1940s. But the field has grown quickly in the past few years.
Locally, Spectrum Healthcare Partners provides Pluvicto® for certain types of prostate cancer. Spectrum is also working to expand access for patients with neuroendocrine tumors, which most often occur in your gastrointestinal tract, lungs, or pancreas (and less commonly start in the thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands, and in the thymus). Patients with neuroendocrine tumors require a more extensive clinical support system.
“Other cancers – like breast, brain, lung, and liver – are also being studied in clinical trials for theranostics,” says Dr. Quinn. “That could open the door to more treatment options in the future.”
Who Is a Candidate for Theranostics?
Not every cancer patient qualifies for theranostics. Eligibility depends on several factors – including the type of cancer, whether the tumor expresses the right molecular target, how far the disease has progressed, and how well things like the kidneys, liver, and bone marrow are functioning.
But when it is the right fit, theranostics can make a real difference. With a more personalized treatment approach, patients can experience better outcomes, fewer side effects, and an improved quality of life.
“Patients with prostate cancer, for example, may now be eligible for Pluvicto® earlier in their treatment plan – even before chemotherapy,” explains Dr. Quinn. “The FDA recently expanded its use for patients who have been treated with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (which helps stop male sex hormones from encouraging cancer growth) and are considered appropriate to delay taxane-based chemotherapy (a class of chemotherapy drugs derived from yew trees). That gives us another opportunity to personalize care and potentially improve outcomes.”
“We’ve seen how impactful this can be,” says Dr. Quinn. “It gives people another line of hope when other options are no longer effective.”
A Team Approach with Real Impact
Deciding if a patient is a good candidate for theranostics is not just a clinical checklist – it is a collaborative decision.
“We rely on input from oncology, endocrinology, imaging, and lab data – everyone plays a role,” says Dr. Quinn. “It’s about timing the therapy just right and making sure it fits within the patient’s overall care plan and goals.”
Looking Ahead: A More Personal Approach to Cancer Care
Theranostics is changing cancer care – making it more precise, more personal, and more powerful. And it is only gaining momentum.
“The field is growing quickly,” says Dr. Quinn. “We’re seeing these therapies used earlier in the treatment timeline, in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or external beam radiation – all with the goal to improve outcomes.”
There is also exciting potential beyond cancer. Researchers are exploring how theranostics could help treat non-cancerous diseases like Alzheimer’s.
“I’ve been with Spectrum and MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland for nearly 30 years,” says Dr. Quinn. “To grow in parallel with both the organization and the field of nuclear medicine, and to see the direct impact on patient care, has been truly rewarding.”
Key Takeaways:
- Theranostics uses the same radioactive substance to detect cancerous tissue, treat it, and track the progress of treatment.
- Theranostics offers patients better outcomes, fewer side effects, and an improved quality of life due to its more personalized approach and precision.
- Theranostics is currently being used to treat several types of cancer, including prostate, thyroid, and neuroendocrine tumors.
- Researchers are studying the use of theranostics for other types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, brain, lung, and liver.
- Not every cancer patient qualifies for theranostics, depending on a variety of factors.
- Locally, Spectrum Healthcare Partners is working to expand access for patients with neuroendocrine tumors, which require a more extensive clinical support system.
- Radiologist’s in Spectrum’s Southern Radiology division work closely with team members in oncology, endocrinology, imaging, and lab data when using theranostics to treat cancer patients.
- Theranostics is also being researched to treat non-cancerous diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
- Advances in theranostics are moving quickly in 2026.
