In this review, rational concepts for developing new technologies of molecular imaging and molecular targeting therapy for cancer based on multi-disciplinary science are introduced. First, the basis of next generation molecular imaging technologies for cancer cell-specific detection is discussed. Then, a newly developed cancer cell-specific therapy using antibody-photosensitizer conjugates and near infrared light, named photoimmunotherapy, which was evolved from the molecular imaging technology is introduced and discussed focusing on its basis, therapeutic effects, and applications.

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Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is a treatment irradiating target tissues with radiopharmaceuticals which are based on molecular targeting mechanism. In this setting, imaging is simultaneously obtained during treatment. TRT has a unique character that therapeutics and diagnostics can be achieved by a single agent so that TRT is a true form of theranostics. Japan is seriously behind the other countries in both clinical practice and development of TRT. Readers may appreciate it as an emerging option of cancer therapy.

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Recently, the development of a new research field by the technical fusion of the border domain such as medical engineering cooperation and the medical application of the nanotechnology are performed actively, and they contribute to development of medical science. Magnetic particles for cancer therapy and diagnosis have been developed on the basis of their unique physico-chemical properties not present in other materials and they have been utilized in applications such as cell sorting and separation technology, immunoassay, contrast media for the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), heating mediators for cancer therapy (hyperthermia), drug delivery system of the anticancer agent and controlled material release using functionalized magnetic particles. In this article, we summarize the medical application of magnetic particle for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

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With an advent of new generation photo-sensitizers including 5-Amino levulinic acid (5-ALA) or its derivatives, photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely applied for the detection of invisible tumor or for the new therapeutic modalities in genito-urinary (GU) malignancies. In particular, PDD-assisted TURBT (transurethral resection of bladder tumor) may contribute to eliminate the heterogeneous outcome after TURBT among institutions by reducing the surviving invisible tumors. Issues of the future would be head-to head comparison of detection ability to other detection modalities including NBI (narrow band imaging), or molecular elucidation of the role of false positivity of PDD.

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