Lu-177 PSMA Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer: Benefits and Treatment Process

Lu-177 PSMA radionuclide therapy
Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is an innovative radionuclide therapy that is used to kill cancer cells in advanced prostate cancer cases. This nuclear medicine therapy specifically targets a molecule on the surface of prostate cancer cells called PSMA. PSMA is also the same molecule to which the PET imaging agents bind in case of prostate cancer. 

Lutetium-177 is a radioactive isotope that emits beta particles (high-energy electrons), giving it the capability of direct radiation. This allows the targeted destruction of cancer cells while minimising damage to surrounding tissue. In addition, Lu-177 also emits gamma rays, which help track the treatment and confirm that the radioactive agent has reached the tumour.

How does this therapy work?

In this procedure, the Lutetium-177 drug is administered intravenously to the body, where it reaches the cancer cells through the bloodstream and destroys them by emitting radiation. The low level of radiation lights up the cancer cells on a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, helping assess the spread and binding of the radiotracer. This therapy is used to treat prostate cancer, the most common form of cancer in men over 50. 

If you live in Delhi-NCR, you can schedule this therapy by searching for lutetium 177 psma radionuclide therapy to find HOD’s Rajouri Garden centre.

Benefits

There are multiple benefits of Lu-177 PSMA therapy in treating advanced prostate cancer:

  • Targeted treatment – It is a highly effective therapy that targets prostate cancer cells but avoids other tissues.
  • Pain relief – The therapy helps relieve pain by shrinking tumours in the bones.
  • Contracting growth – It can recoil growths in lymph nodes, bones, and the prostate gland, where the disease has spread. 
  • Slows down disease progression – It helps slow down the progression of advanced disease and lengthen the time before the cancer grows or spreads further.
  • Improved survival – Studies show that the PSMA therapy is linked to an improved survival rate.
  • Well tolerated:  This therapy is well tolerated, and from a risk/benefit ratio, it is highly impactful.

What to know before treatment

Since this therapy is a relatively new approach, there are several factors that patients and their doctors need to consider:
  • Side effects – Some common short-term term side effects may include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fatigue and low blood cell counts. 
  • Multiple treatments – This treatment may be given multiple times in a time span of several months. 
  • Promising response rate: The effectiveness of the therapy will depend on case to case basis.
  • Improved outcomes: The therapy is known to boost the survival rate as it lowers the progress of the disease. It is considered a valuable tool in oncological care. 

Side effects and considerations

Some patients may experience some side effects such as  dry mouth and eyes, blood cell changes, fatigue, nausea, and blood cell changes. Most of the symptoms of this therapy go away quickly after undergoing the therapy. 

It is always important to consult your clinician to get a thorough assessment of your overall health and any previous treatments to find out the right approach.

HOD offers this therapy at its Rajouri Garden centre. Search Lu-177 PSMA Radionuclide Therapy in Google to locate the address and schedule an appointment.

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