Lutetium-177 PSMA (LuPSMA) radionuclide therapy

Lutetium-177 PSMA radionuclide therapy is used for treating patients with advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancers, in particular those that have spread to other sites of the body or become resistant to hormonal therapies, express a unique substance on their cell surface called prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA). LuPSMA radionuclide therapy involves using a radioactive molecule (Lutetium-177) and PSMA substance that specifically attaches to cells with high PSMA expression. This radioactive molecule is taken up into prostate cancer cells, or wherever the disease has spread and enables delivery of high doses of targeted radiation to sites of prostate cancer whilst sparing most normal tissues. This is called radionuclide therapy as it uses radiation to kill prostate cancer cells.

The use of LuPSMA therapy is largely for patients who have progressive metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer. You may be referred for this treatment if there is progression of your condition despite having undergone conventional therapy (such as hormonal treatment and chemotherapy). Hormonal treatment and other systemic therapies may control the disease for some periods of time, however many patients eventually suffer a relapse of the disease.

The benefits of this targeted radionuclide therapy may include shrinkage of tumours, a reduction in blood Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) level, improvement in symptoms such as pain and a general improvement in well-being.