Nuclear medicine technologies for cancer treatment are being introduced in Kazakhstan
21 October 2024
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The hospital of the Medical Center of the Presidential Administration, together with the Institute of Nuclear Physics, has begun the introduction of new nuclear medicine technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases. This was announced by the chief freelance specialist in nuclear medicine of the Ministry of Health, head of the Nuclear Medicine Center of the Hospital of the Medical Center of the Presidential Administration, Doctor of Medical Sciences Aigul Saduakasova.
"World medical science has made a step forward in the direction of theranostics. Kazakhstan too. The term "theranostics" is international, formed from two words: therapy and diagnosis. He says that with the same isotope we can not only diagnose diseases, and at an early stage, but also treat them. A mandatory component of such drugs is a targeted delivery module that can recognize molecules characteristic of cancer cells and deliver a therapeutic and diagnostic agent to affected cells in a targeted manner," Aigul Saduakasova noted.
She said that currently, within the framework of the Center for Nuclear Medicine (CEM), only the diagnosis of oncological diseases is carried out using such radiopharmaceuticals.
"These technologies represent a completely new level of cancer treatment, which is necessary for both patients and Kazakhstani healthcare in general. The UDP Medical Center Hospital has the most advanced Nuclear Medicine Center in the country, which is why we are starting to introduce and adapt theranostic technologies," said the head of the Central Research Institute.
In turn, the Director General of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sayabek Sakhiyev, informed about which drugs they plan to produce.
"Our institute is engaged not only in fundamental and applied science, but we also have the production of radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of oncological diseases. By the end of the years, we intend to expand the list of radiopharmaceuticals produced, add samarium-225 and lutetium-177," Sakhiyev said.
According to Saduakasova, the development and adaptation of theranostic technologies have been included in the roadmap for the development of nuclear energy and nuclear medicine, which is designed for seven years – 2024-2030. The document is being implemented within the framework of the work of the Council for the Development of Nuclear Physics (radiochemistry), established under the Government of Kazakhstan.
"Next year we want to introduce radioembolization. What is it? The introduction of isotopes through the hepatic artery directly into the tumor tissue of the liver, without affecting its healthy part and without causing toxic effects to the body. This method allows necrotizing the tumor itself with minimal use of isotopes. That is, an alternative treatment path appears in oncology, without chemistry and radiation exposure," the expert shared.
Source: https://tengrinews.kz
