Lutetium-177: a flexible radionuclide therapeutic options

Objectives: 1. Understand the evolving theranostic applications of a promising radionuclide Lutetium-177. 2. Review and highlight the role of Lutetium-177 in improving the quality of life for patients affected with Neuroendocrine tumour (NET) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Background: A'theranostic 'term is used when the same agent may be used to combine two interdependent applications, namely diagnosis and treatment. Iodine-131 is the most widely used radionuclide that falls into the concept of ideal Theranostics. Lutetium is a late entrant, but it is emerging as a game-changer for the treatment of NET over a short period of time and shows useful results for the treatment of mCRPC. Due to simultaneous imageable gamma photon and particulate emission, less penetrable to healthy cells, lutetium is commonly used as an option in radionuclide therapy. In addition, the long half-life of simple chemistry makes it a natural ligand for different therapeutic agents. It is simple to manage because of the amount of permissible emission of beta and gamma radiation from Lutetium. Finding and procedure detail Various clinical studies performed under the NETTER (Neuroendocrine Tumors Therapy Study) and the latest continuing trial for the treatment of mCRPC have been reviewed. These studies showed that Lutetium-177 was an effective agent in the affected patients to boost the quality of life and progression-free survival. The role of Lutetium-177-labeled Rituximab in the treatment of Herceptin-defined breast cancer was also reviewed by one party.

Conclusions: Lutetium-177 has shown to be very useful in treating numerous types of tumours. The results of several clinical studies promise Lutetium-177 as a flexible theranostic agent an exciting and great potential for the future.