South Korea opens first theranostics center

Asan Medical Center leads the expansion and research of cancer-treating radiopharmaceuticals.

South Korea's Asan Medical Center (AMC) started fully operating the country’s first-ever Theranostics Center, which will expand technology and treatment of neuroendocrine tumours and prostate cancer, specifically with therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

Rooted in the words “therapy” and “diagnosis," Theranostics is the technology of diagnosing and treating cancer through radiopharmaceuticals. They are seen as an effective treatment against cancer, due to fewer side effects and immediate attachment to cancer cells.

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Currently, a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical for neuroendocrine tumours is approved in Korea, whilst a similar treatment for prostate cancer is pending approval. Asan Medical Center is involved in the global clinical trials for radiopharmaceuticals.

The World Health Organization recorded more than 10 million new cases of cancer globally in 2020, with more than 10 million cancer-related deaths.