From the June 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


Dr. Johannes Czernin, chief of the division, sees theranostics — the use of molecules that can be labeled with diagnostics or therapeutic isotopes — as a cornerstone of future management of patients with prostate cancer.

“The diagnostic test determines whether the therapeutic target, PSMA, is expressed,” Czernin said. “The near identical therapeutic compound is labeled with a different isotope and seeks out cancer tissue that express PSMA. The compound binds to and irradiates cancer cells. Thus, we can now use imaging to select patients for the appropriate therapy.”


The division has roughly 700 patients enrolled in the Phase 3 clinical trial for the diagnostic compound under review, called 68 Gallium-PSMA 11. There are 30 patients enrolled in the Phase 2 trial for the therapeutic agent, 177 Lutetium-PSMA 617.

The agent is similar for diagnostics and therapy, Czernin explained, and the therapeutic agent will selectively seek out the tissue that expresses PSMA.

Reports from Europe have suggested that theranostics for prostate cancer will have a significant impact on a large percentage of prostate cancer patients, possibly associated with a significant survival benefit. Such survival benefits have already been shown for another theranostic pair used in patients with neuroendocrine tumors, Czernin said.

Since there are few sites offering research into theranostics, UCLA is at the forefront of the research in the U.S.

“People come from all over the country and other countries to us to participate in our clinical trials,” Czernin said.

It makes sense to have a treatment center in a large metropolitan area such as Los Angeles with a diverse population.

“You want to create something that is accessible to all patients and address the needs of a diverse patient population,” Czernin said.


Back to HCB News

June 2018 Magazine

Read more stories from the June 2018 issue

More Magazine Features

Molecular Imaging Homepage