Gadolinium theranostics for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 18.1 million new cancer cases and 9.6 million cancer deaths reported worldwide in 2018. These numbers are expected to rise over the next decade, and the development of new and effective cancer treatments and diagnostic tools is urgently required, particularly for aggressive and intractable malignant cancers such as those of the brain. An exciting field of cancer research involves combining therapeutic and diagnostic tools into a single 'theranostic' platform. The role of theranostics in the personalized management of oncology patients is increasing, as is the demand for new types of theranostic agents. Some of the most promising cancer theranostics exploit the lanthanoid metal gadolinium, an element possessing favourable therapeutic and imaging properties.

Automated summary

According to the World Health Organization, the number of new cancer cases and deaths is expected to rise in the next decade, calling for the development of new and effective cancer treatments and diagnostic tools. Theranostics, particularly those utilizing materials like gadolinium, are showing promise in personalized management of oncology patients, representing a new direction in cancer research.