Markey oncologist to lead national symposium on emerging cancer treatment
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2026) — University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center radiation oncologist Denise Fabian, M.D., will lead a national symposium focused on theranostics, a rapidly advancing approach to precision cancer care that combines diagnostic imaging and therapeutic interventions.
Fabian was selected as program chair for the NRG Oncology Winter 2026 Educational Symposium, “Theranostics: Precision Imaging Meets Targeted Therapy,” Jan. 22 in San Francisco during the NRG Oncology Winter Meeting.
Theranostics is a precision medicine approach that combines diagnostic imaging and targeted treatment using the same molecular target. First, doctors first use a radiolabeled imaging agent to identify whether a patient’s tumor expresses a specific biologic marker and to map the extent of disease. If the target is present, a closely matched therapeutic radiopharmaceutical is then administered, delivering cytotoxic radiation directly to the cancer cells while largely sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
Fabian, associate professor and residency program director in UK College of Medicine’s Department of Radiation Medicine, will lead the program designed to help oncology professionals understand how these paired imaging and treatment approaches work, how they can be used for different types of cancer and what’s needed to offer them to patients. The symposium will also highlight current clinical trials and new treatments in development.
“We are excited to spotlight theranostics at this winter’s educational symposium and to deepen engagement around what we see as a transformative wave in cancer therapy,” Fabian said. “By bringing together leaders in oncology, nuclear medicine, radiology and radiation oncology, the event will explore how theranostics is reshaping cancer care today and where it is headed next.”
UK is at the forefront of theranostics treatment and research, driven by departmental collaboration among Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Nuclear Pharmacology. Markey currently has seven clinical trials open, with three more launching in the coming weeks.
“This integrated approach allows us to push boundaries, accelerate innovation and ultimately deliver more precise, effective care for our patients,” Fabian said.
NRG Oncology is a National Cancer Institute-funded clinical trials network conducting multi-center cancer research. The organization recently established a Theranostics Subcommittee to build a more robust program in this emerging field, reflecting the growing importance of radiopharmaceutical therapy in oncology.
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