THERANOSTICS IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE: INTEGRATING DIAGNOSTIC PRECISION AND PERSONALIZED THERAPY

Abstract

Theranostics in nuclear medicine is an innovative approach that integrates molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy through the use of specific radiopharmaceuticals, enabling greater precision in disease characterization and more individualized treatment. This study is a descriptive literature review aimed at analyzing the application of theranostics in nuclear medicine, with emphasis on its foundations, main radiopharmaceuticals, clinical indications, benefits, and prospects for personalized medicine. The methodology was based on an analysis of scientific publications concerning the use of theranostic pairs, particularly in prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, with consideration given to molecular imaging methods and radionuclide therapies. The results demonstrate that this approach enables the prior identification of molecular target expression, the selection of patients with a greater likelihood of therapeutic response, the delivery of radionuclides to tumor cells, and the monitoring of treatment effectiveness. The integration of diagnosis and therapy was also found to have the potential to improve therapeutic precision and reduce unnecessary exposure of healthy tissues. It is concluded that theranostics represents a major advance in contemporary nuclear medicine, contributing to more individualized treatments and strengthening precision medicine.