Radiopharmaceutical therapy is an emerging and promising type of cancer treatment. It targets cancer cells with high precision, ensuring a safe and effective treatment. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which uses machines or seeds, radiopharmaceuticals can be administered orally, through infusion, or injection.
What are Radiopharmaceuticals?
Radiopharmaceuticals are medications that contain unstable isotopes, which are elements that emit radiation. In medicine, these substances are used in two main ways: for diagnostic imaging and treating specific cancers.
Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceuticals used for imaging help doctors accurately identify the location and extent of diseases. Patients typically receive these substances before undergoing a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Once in the bloodstream, these radiopharmaceuticals target and attach to proteins found on the surface of cancer cells.
Examples of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals include Pylarify®, Illuccix®, Gallium Dotatate, and Copper Dotatate.
Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals
Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals precisely target cancer cells with radiation while sparing much of the surrounding healthy tissues. These agents can effectively destroy cancer cells or inhibit their growth by binding to specific receptors on the cells.
Examples of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals include Pluvicto®, which is used to treat advanced cases of prostate cancer, and Lutathera®, which targets neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) commonly found in the intestines.
How Do Radiopharmaceuticals Work?
Radiopharmaceuticals work by detecting cancer cells and directly targeting them with radiation. Molecules such as monoclonal antibodies guide the radioactive isotopes past healthy cells to bind to specific targets found on cancer cells. Once attached, the radiation is delivered directly to the tumor, where it can start killing cancer cells.
Radiopharmaceuticals only need to attach to cancer cells to be effective. They do not need to be absorbed by the cells to cause damage. However, some radioactive compounds penetrate the cell connected to the radiopharmaceutical, affecting anywhere from 10 to 30 surrounding cells, depending on the energy produced. This increases the number of cancer cells that can be eliminated with a single radiopharmaceutical molecule.
While radiopharmaceuticals show promise as a standalone cancer treatment, some patients may gain additional benefits from combination therapy. Depending on the type of cancer being treated, integrating other cancer treatments, such as surgery, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, may enhance the overall effectiveness of radiopharmaceuticals.
Additionally, using radiopharmaceuticals alongside traditional radiation therapy can be an effective approach, particularly in cases where localized tumors have spread, making external beam radiation no longer possible. Radiopharmaceuticals can reach those distant areas within the body.
Benefits of Cancer Treatment With Radiopharmaceuticals
There are several advantages to using radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment:
Precision treatment. These therapies minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue by precisely targeting cancer cells. Radiopharmaceuticals can also access areas difficult or impossible to treat with external radiation therapy, such as the bone or brain.
Fewer side effects. Because of the minimized damage to healthy tissue during treatment, patients often experience fewer side effects compared to other cancer therapies.
Symptom relief. Radiopharmaceuticals can effectively alleviate pain for patients with cancer.
What to Expect With Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
At Affiliated Oncologists, our radiation oncologists oversee the use of radiopharmaceuticals as part of the treatment plan. Most patients receive these therapies through an injection into a vein or through a port that is surgically placed into a patient. Some can be administered orally, depending on the specific type and intended use.
Radiopharmaceutical treatments generally take a short amount of time to complete the infusion. In most cases, results are noticeable after just one injection and at most, after five injections.
What Are the Side Effects of Radiopharmaceuticals?
Because radiopharmaceuticals target cancer cells so accurately, side effects are rare. However, some patients may experience one or more of the following:
Headache
Rapid heartbeat
Fever
Chills
Nausea or vomiting
Difficulty breathing
Flushed or red skin
Drowsiness
Skin issues, including itchiness, rash, or hives
Swelling of the hands, feet, or throat
When side effects occur, they typically appear immediately or within a few minutes after treatment, while you are still at the cancer center. Our radiation oncologists and oncology-certified nurses will be there to monitor and assist you if necessary.
Expert Cancer Specialists in South Chicago
At Affiliated Oncologists, our dedicated radiation oncologists use the latest cancer treatments, including radiopharmaceuticals, for patients throughout the south suburbs of Chicago. If you would like to find out if radiopharmaceuticals are right for you, request an appointment at one of our locations in Chicago Ridge, Mokena, Hazel Crest, Palos Heights, Orland Park, or Oak Lawn, IL.