At the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Oncology in Semey, a new method for diagnosing and treating malignant tumors is being implemented. Colleagues from abroad have arrived to conduct a master class on theranostics, reports Kazpravda.kz referencing “24KZ”.
The term “theranostics” is derived from the combination of two words – “therapy” and “diagnostics.” This is a modern method for detecting and treating cancer using radiopharmaceuticals. It can be considered a branch of radioiodine therapy, which was introduced in Kazakhstan in 2021. Dozens of Kazakhstani patients have already received this type of treatment, including Svetlana Tyurina, a resident of Semey. She shares that an ultrasound specialist accidentally discovered a tumor during a routine examination.
- Metastatic lymph nodes were found. So, it was no longer just thyroid cancer; there were already metastases. The most important thing is that radiotherapy can be done here in Semey. There were many thoughts. How? What? Where? They said there was no medication, or something else. Traveling to Russia. But you understand, it’s both time and money. And here we have such a wonderful center, - shared Svetlana Tyurina, a resident of Semey.
Doctors say that the drugs used in theranostics are harmless. The isotope is eliminated from the body just two hours after the procedure. Moreover, the pharmaceutical product is manufactured in Semey.
- Fluor-PSMA, like any diagnostic study we have implemented (such as 18-fluorodeoxyglucose), is the same type of drug. Its half-life is only 108 minutes. If this drug is administered to a patient, it is practically eliminated from the body within two hours, - notes Bayan Atantaeva, Deputy Director of the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Strategic Planning.
To conduct a master class for oncologists, specialists from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy have arrived in Semey.
- One of the main advantages of theranostics is the control of therapy effectiveness and an individualized approach to treatment. Additionally, the drug only targets pathologically altered cells without affecting healthy ones. The master class will last four days. During this time, specialists will gain new experience in treating oncological diseases, - explained Francesco Giammarrile, an expert from the IAEA’s Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Department.