Theranostics: From Mice to Men and Back

Presenters: Prof. Dr. Ken Herrmann and Prof. Dr. Katharina Lückerath – Moderator: Hannah Notebaert

What can be learned from preclinical experiments? And what cannot be learned? What do preclinical researchers need to know about clinical applications? What do clinicians need to learn from preclinical researchers? We will try to answer this! Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of theranostics and bridge the gap between preclinical imaging and clinical applications. 

The theranostic approach combines targeted therapy and diagnostic imaging. It represents a precision medicine approach relying on a specific targeted diagnostic test that helps to select patients for a specific targeted therapy. Molecular imaging in nuclear medicine combines imaging modalities like PET and SPECT with computed tomography (CT) or magnet resonance tomography to derive detailed information on disease. In the clinic, molecular imaging is mainly used for diagnosis, staging, monitoring response to therapy, and selecting patients. Diagnostic imaging can identify those patients who are positive or negative for a target out of a larger population. Subsequently, the patients who are positive can continue with targeted therapy, and patients who are negative can receive conventional therapy. Using preclinical imaging we can learn about targets, (the choice of) ligand, (potentially) which radioisotope to use best, and about tumor biology, which is important for effective theranostics.