Radiopharmaceuticals for Cancer Treatment
Radiopharmaceutical therapy, also known as Theranostic therapy, is a targeted therapy using radiation to safely and effectively target and eliminate cancer cells within the body. Standard radiation therapy uses machines or seeds to target the affected area. Radiopharmaceuticals, on the other hand, can be given as pills, injections, or infusions.
Radiopharmaceuticals are used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Those used in cancer treatment are called therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, and those used in cancer diagnosis are called diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.
Virginia Oncology Associates currently offers therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This treatment approach continues to be studied through clinical research, with more options and uses likely to become available in the future.
Understanding Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceuticals are specialized drugs that combine a radioactive element with a targeting molecule to locate specific cells or tissues in the body. Depending on how they are used, they can help doctors diagnose cancer through imaging or deliver targeted radiation to treat cancer, while limiting exposure to healthy tissue.
Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceuticals may be administered before a PET scan. Once the drug has entered the bloodstream, it binds to proteins on the surface of cancer cells. This bond makes it easier for doctors to determine the location and extent of the cancer accurately.
Examples: Pylarify® and Illuccix® for prostate cancer, and Gallium Dotatate and Copper Dotatate for NETs.
Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals
When radiopharmaceuticals are used for treatment, they deliver radiation directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissues. Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals can successfully kill cancer cells or stop their growth by binding to specific receptors on cancer cells.
Examples: Pluvicto® and Xofigo® for prostate cancer, and Lutathera® for neuroendocrine tumors.
Benefits of Treating Cancer with Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceutical cancer treatment offers many benefits, such as:
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Precise treatment, less damage to healthy tissues. Accurate targeting of cancer cells causes less damage to nearby healthy tissues. These treatments can travel throughout the body to reach cancer in places that may be harder to treat with traditional radiation, such as the bones.
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An additional treatment option for patients. Radiopharmaceuticals can be used for some patients whose cancer did not respond well to other types of cancer treatment.
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Fewer treatment side effects. Less damage to healthy tissue during treatment results in fewer side effects compared to other therapies.
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Helps patients live longer: Studies show that radiopharmaceuticals in a cancer treatment plan can help delay cancer recurrence or progression.
How Radiopharmaceuticals Work to Treat Cancer
Radiopharmaceuticals are designed to target specific receptors or markers on cancer cells and deliver radiation therapy directly to them. Molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies, guide radioactive isotopes in the radiopharmaceutical drug to bind to targets on cancer cells while minimizing exposure to healthy cells. From there, radiation is delivered directly to the tumor, where it destroys cancer cells.
Radiopharmaceuticals do not have to be absorbed by cancer cells to be effective. Once it attaches to a cancer cell, radiation is delivered to the attached cell and nearby cancer cells. This potentially targets and destroys multiple cancer cells with a single radiopharmaceutical molecule, making it a highly advanced and promising treatment option.
Radiopharmaceuticals are often used alongside other treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and external radiation therapy, as part of a comprehensive and personalized cancer care plan.
How Radiopharmaceuticals Are Given
At Virginia Oncology Associates, radiopharmaceutical treatment is led by a radiation oncologist as part of a personalized treatment plan. It is typically administered by injection into a vein or through a surgically implanted port. Some radiopharmaceuticals may be taken orally, depending on the type and intended use.
Treating cancer with radiopharmaceutical agents usually takes a few visits of around 4 hours. It is done in VOA's Radiation Oncology departments located at the Brock Cancer Center in Norfolk, Virginia, the Careplex in Hampton, Virginia, and the Princess Anne location in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Results are often noticed after one injection or, at most, after six injections.
Potential Side Effects of Radiopharmaceuticals
Serious side effects of radiopharmaceuticals are rare. However, some patients may experience the following, depending on the part of the body being treated:
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Fatigue
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Fever
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Chills
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Nausea or vomiting
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Skin issues
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Rapid heartbeat
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Difficulty breathing
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Headache
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Swollen hands, feet, or throat
While some side effects may occur shortly after treatment, others can develop over time. Your care team will monitor you closely and provide instructions on what to watch for after you go home.
Radiopharmaceuticals: Leading Cancer Care in Hampton Roads
The oncologists at Virginia Oncology Associates offer the most innovative cancer treatments, including radiopharmaceuticals, for patients throughout Southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina. As new therapies are approved, our team will add them to our possible cancer treatment options for patients. We are also active participants in clinical research trials, allowing our patients access to emerging treatments before they’re broadly available.
Learn more about our clinical trials program.
Radiopharmaceuticals are available at VOA cancer centers located in Norfolk, Hampton, and Virginia Beach, Virginia.
