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For many people living with advanced cancer, treatment choices can become overwhelming, especially when standard therapies stop working. But at Epic Care, a groundbreaking treatment is giving patients renewed hope and a clearer path forward. Since 2022, Epic Care has been the first community practice in Northern California to offer theranostic therapy; a revolutionary approach that combines diagnostic imaging and targeted treatment to deliver personalized care for patients with advanced cancer.
Theranostics, a blend of “therapy” and “diagnostics,” uses specialized radiopharmaceuticals to both locate and treat cancer cells. This dual-purpose strategy allows physicians to see tumors with pinpoint accuracy and then deliver radiation directly to those cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Other names for this treatment include Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) or radiopharmaceutical therapy.
“This therapy allows us to have another tool as part of our efforts to deliver more precise medicine and reduce side effects,” explains Dr. Uma Swamy, CEO and board-certified radiation oncologist at Epic Care.
The process begins with a diagnostic scan. Patients receive a radiotracer, a radioactive drug designed to bind to specific markers on cancer cells. Using advanced imaging techniques such as PET/CT, physicians can see exactly where the cancer is and determine whether the tumor is a good candidate for targeted treatment. If the diagnostic scan confirms a match, the same targeting molecule is paired with a therapeutic radioisotope and given to the patient. Once in the bloodstream, the radioactive compound travels directly to the cancer cells, emitting radiation that damages the cancer cell’s DNA and helps shrink or destroy the tumor. Because the same molecule is used for both diagnosis and treatment, it makes for one of the most personalized approaches to cancer care available today.
Theranostic therapy is currently FDA-approved for several cancers, including prostate cancer with PLUVICTO (Lu-PSMA-617), which targets prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors with Lutathera® (Lu 177 dotatate), which binds to somatostatin receptors on tumor cells. Research is underway to expand its use to other cancers, including paragangliomas, and Epic Care stands ready to offer these treatments as soon as they become available.
For patients, the benefits are significant. Because the radiation is delivered directly to cancer cells, healthy tissues are largely spared, often resulting in fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy or external radiation. Treatments are provided in an outpatient clinic setting, allowing patients to go home the same day. Many are able to begin therapy within just a couple of weeks of evaluation, and progress is closely monitored through labs and imaging to adjust treatment as needed.
“I was willing to travel from the Central Valley for this treatment, which was worth it. My experience with Epic Care has been both positive and fruitful. The team treated me with compassion and competence,” says Robert Fry, an Epic Care patient treated with radiopharmaceuticals. “They gave me 16 months of remission, and I’m thankful to Dr. Swamy and the Epic Care team for offering this kind of hope.”
Theranostic therapy represents a major leap forward in precision medicine, offering new hope to patients who may not respond to traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or external beam radiation. At Epic Care, providing this therapy is part of a larger mission to deliver state-of-the-art care that is personal, effective, and close to home.
“It has been exciting and fulfilling to be able to offer this treatment to our patients who would have otherwise been left with no other options to control their cancer,” says Dr. Swamy.
For over 40 years, Epic Care has been a trusted, independent, physician-led, multi-specialty practice dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective care. In addition to theranostic therapy, Epic Care offers comprehensive healthcare services, including medical oncology, breast health, primary care, surgery, diagnostic imaging, and genetic counseling. With 12 convenient locations across the East Bay, patients can access exceptional healthcare close to home.
To learn more about theranostic therapy or any of Epic Care’s other healthcare services, or to schedule a consultation, visit epic-care.com or call (925) 255-1066.