Virtual twin of cancer patients could predict treatment response

Researchers propose creating a 'theranostic digital twin', a computer model of an individual cancer patient, to simulate radioactive treatment outcomes before the actual drug is administered. The concept is detailed in a paper in *Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies* by Swagat Dash of Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, and scientists from Geneva University Hospital, Razavi Hospital and Bushehr Medical University Hospital in Iran.

The digital twin would combine scans, blood tests and clinical data with artificial intelligence to predict how tumours and healthy organs react to treatments such as lutetium-177 PSMA for prostate cancer. Dash, associate director of nuclear medicine at Sarvodaya Hospital, said doctors could compare different options on the virtual model rather than waiting to see if therapy works after it starts.

The technology remains at the research stage and requires large standardised datasets and continuous updates as the patient's condition changes. The authors say the twin is meant to support, not replace, doctors. Earlier clinical research cited in the paper found that prostate cancer patients whose tumours absorbed more PSMA tracer had a 91% treatment-response rate versus 52% for those with lower absorption.