Recent advancements in cancer research have led to the development of several new types of radiopharmaceuticals that target and destroy cancer at the cellular level.
Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which uses either an external machine or radioactive seeds to deliver radiation to the affected area, radiopharmaceutical medications can be delivered via pill, injection, or infusion.
Radiopharmaceuticals are given to patients prior to a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. After entering the bloodstream, these drugs attach to proteins on the surface of cancer cells enabling physicians to precisely identify the location and extent of any disease.
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals may include Pylarify®, Illuccix®, Gallium Dotatate, and Copper Dotatate.
Radiopharmaceuticals deliver targeted radiation directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. By binding to specific receptors on the cells, therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals can effectively destroy cancer cells or inhibit their growth.
Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals may include Pluvicto®, Xofigo®, and Lutathera®.
Radiopharmaceutical treatment offers several benefits including:
Texas Oncology offers radiopharmaceutical treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer and/or neuroendocrine tumors.
