Hormone therapy is one of the effective treatments used for the cancer, which is also known as endocrine therapy. This approach is adopted for those type of cancers which are very sensitive to hormones and can be treated...
Hormone therapy is one of the effective treatments used for the cancer, which is also known as endocrine therapy. This approach is adopted for those type of cancers which are very sensitive to hormones and can be treated through hormone therapy. These cancers mainly include ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and some types of thyroid cancers. These cancers usually occurs due to hormones like progesterone, estrogen or testosterone, which by blocking can reduce the limit of spread and also help in treating the condition. PET CT plays an important role in the detection, to look for effect of hormone treatment and also help to construct a dose for the abnormality. PET CT is helpful in detecting the cancer at metabolic level which helps to detect cancer at the minor level. This is helpful in limiting the spread and effective treat the cancer at the early stages. PET CT also helps in selecting the dose of hormones, helps to detect resistence and helps to manage the cancer in the long run.
Hormone Therapy in Cancer: An Overview
There are various ways through which hormones works to limit the cancer and these include:
- By Blocking hormone receptors – There are various hormone based drugs which are used to limit or block hormone receptors. Drugs like tamoxifen are useful in breast cancer and anti-androgens is helpful in prostate cancer.
- It Acts By Lowering hormone levels – There are various medications in the marked like aromatase inhibitors or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone which reduce hormone production and help to limit the cancer and its growth.
- Remove glands Surgically (Hormone Producing): There are various procedures like Oophorectomy or orchiectomy, which are helpful in restricting the cancers.
Role of PET CT in Hormone Therapy
1. PET CT help in Patient Selection
- PET CT scan with its radioactive tracers like FDG help to recognize the patient, whether having positive receptors or not.
- PET CT helps the doctors to finalize whether to go for hormone therapy or not for the patient.
- PET CT helps in planning the treatment and gives insights whether to go for appropriate therapy planning.
2. PET CT helps to assess the base for Hormone Therapy
- PET CT is helpful in detecting the spread of condition before staring the treatment.
- PET CT provides the baseline of treatment from metabolic activity which is also helpful in tracking the treatment.
- PET CT is very effective diagnostic tool in detecting both primary and metastatic cancer conditions.
3. PET CT is helpful in keeping the track of Treatment Response.
- PET CT provides metabolic changes which helps to detect the condition at the base of metabolism.
- PET CT helps to give the metabolic changes which are starting of cancer conditions.
4. PET CT is helpful in Recognizing Resistance to Hormone Therapy
- Hormone therapy is very helpful in cancer conditions but over the time, this becomes resistant and PET CT helps to detect the condition is favorable or not for hormone therapy.
- If there is still high metabolic activity despite the therapy, this shows inefficient of treatment.
- PET CT is also helpful in changing the treatment to chemotherapy or Immunotherapy.
5. PET CT helps in Evaluating Recurrence and Metastasis
- PET CT is highly sensitive in detecting cancer recurrence.
- PET CT is useful procedure in cancers like prostate, breast and other conditions.
- PET CT helps in whole body Imaging and minimizing the risk of metastases condition.
Various Tracers Used in PET CT for Hormone Therapy Cancers.
- 18F-FDG PET CT
- Most widely used tracer.
- Detects increased glucose metabolism in cancer cells.
- Good for aggressive or resistant tumors.
- 18F-FES PET CT
- Specific for estrogen receptor imaging.
- Especially useful in breast cancer to evaluate ER expression across metastatic sites.
- 68Ga-PSMA PET CT
- Used in prostate cancer.
- Highly sensitive in detecting small metastases.
- Helps guide hormonal as well as advanced targeted therapies.
- Other Novel Tracers
- Under research for ovarian and thyroid cancers.
- Expected to expand applications of PET CT in hormone therapy.
PET CT Benefits in Hormone Therapy
- Helps to improve the selection of patients going for hormone therapy.
- Helps to enable early treatment responses for assessment of the medical conditions.
- PET CT helps to guide the treatment for effective results.
- Helps in guiding whether to switch the treatment or going with same treatment.
- Helps to reduce the need of surgical procedures like biopsies etc.
- Helps to support in clinical trials and useful in testing hormone therapies.
PET CT Limitations in Hormone Therapy
- PET CT procedure is costly comparing other diagnostic procedures.
- The availability of the procedure in limited to cities and almost none to rural areas.
- PET CT can be responsible for showing false positive results.
- The procedure makes the patient exposed to radiations.
- PET CT needs expertise for the interpretation of exact results.
List of PET CT Scans Available
Various types of PET CT
- Cardiac PET Scan (Book Now)
- Whole Body PET Scan (Book Now)
- PSMA PET Scan For Prostate (Book Now)
- Dopa Brain PET Scan (Book Now)
- PET Viability Scan Cardiac (Book Now)
Conclusion
PET CT is one of the advanced diagnostic procedure that transforms the healthcare industry. The ability of PET CT to detect cancers at metabolic level, differentiate whether the condition is benign or malignant. This diagnostic procedure also helps to predict which treatment will be effective for the condition. There are various treatment like chemo, radiation, immune and hormone therapy. In some specific cancers depending on hormone levels, hormone therapies are mainly used. These cancers mainly include ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and some types of thyroid cancers. These cancers usually occurs due to hormones like progesterone, estrogen or testosterone, which by blocking can reduce the limit of spread and also help in treating the condition. PET CT plays an important role in the detection, to look for effect of hormone treatment and also help to construct a dose for the abnormality. PET CT is helpful in detecting the cancer at metabolic level which helps to detect cancer at the minor level. This is helpful in limiting the spread and effective treat the cancer at the early stages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Can PET CT improve survival rates?
Indirectly, yes by enabling early adjustments and personalized treatment strategies.
Which treatment is best for the cancer condition?
Depending on type and cause of cancer, healthcare expert can advise for best treatment.
Can we use hormone therapy to all types of cancers?
No, we cannot use hormone therapy to all types of cancers.
Is hormone therapy always effective for cancers?
It is not important that all cancers can have effect of hormones on cancers.
Which type of cancers is usually treated with hormone therapies?
Cancers mainly include ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and some types of thyroid cancers.
