Nucl Med Mol Imaging.  2019 Feb;53(1):30-32. 10.1007/s13139-018-0560-7.

The Emergence of Theranostics in the Philippines: Overcoming Challenges and Bringing Hope

• Bautista P

• KMID: 2446880
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-018-0560-7

Abstract

Medical managements are becoming personalized while diseases are being understood at the molecular level. Nuclear medicine is one of the fields actively contributing to this development. In particular, theranostics, a combinatorial term for therapy and diagnostics, enables accurate imaging and subsequent targeted radionuclide treatment. Due to its high impact in healthcare, many countries have begun to offer Ga-68 PET/CTscans and Lu-177 therapies. The Philippines has followed suit through the initiative of this author and able support of the administration and staff of St. Luke's Medical Center. The Ga-68 DOTATATE and PSMA PET/CT scans became officially available in January 2018 while the first peptide receptor radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine tumor and first PSMA radioligand therapy for prostate cancer occurred in May and June 2018, respectively. Amidst past, present, and future challenges, theranostics has emerged in the Philippines, offering hope to cancer patients in the country.

Keyword

Theranostics; Ga-68/Lu-177 DOTATATE; Ga-68/Lu-177 PSMA; Philippines; Pioneer

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Hope*
Humans
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Nuclear Medicine
Philippines*
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography
Prostatic Neoplasms
Receptors, Peptide
Theranostic Nanomedicine*
Receptors, Peptide