Innovation in Nuclear Medicine Therapy, all you need to know about PRRT.

PRRT is a short form for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy. It is also known as molecular therapy or radioisotope therapy. PRRT has been found to be very effective in the treatment on certain cancers called Neuro endocrine tumours or NETs as some of you may know them.

PRRT is an integral part of Nuclear Medicine Therapy and when a PRRT is conducted, the following steps are carefully undertaken and reviewed by trained Nuclear Medicine Physicians.

  1. A cell targeting protein or peptide is combined with a Radioactive Material, creating a Radio Peptide. This cell targeting peptide is similar to Somatostatin a naturally occurring hormone in the human body
  2. This Radio peptide created with a combination of a Peptide and Radioactive Material is then injected in the patient’s blood stream
  3. This radio peptide has a property to bind with the neuroendocrine tumour cells in the body of a patient. This is achieved because of a cell surface protein (Somatostatin Receptors) present in the tumour cells which have the property to bind to Somatostatin
  4. This radio peptide has the capability to deliver high dosage of radiation directly to the cancer cells - this leads to structural changes in the tumour cells and ultimately killing them
  5. There are two types of Somatostatin Receptors – which are made in the labs at our Nuclear Medicine Centre in Gurgaon India – These are DOTATOC and DOTATATE

This completes the fundamental steps of the PRRT process, now let’s also understand the radioactive chemicals (also called radionuclides) involved – this would help us understand the process a little deeper. So, which are these radionuclides?

Yttrium 90 (Y90) and Lutetium 177 (Lu177) are the most commonly used radionuclides.

Now let’s understand what conditions can be treated by PRRT?

PRRT, like we mentioned earlier, is a procedure that is used for treating Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) – gastro-entero-pancreatic NETs, which arise from the stomach, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, islet cell carcinomas of the pancreas (These NETs are included in the US Federal Drug Administration {FDA} approved indication)

PRRT is a recommended option for patients typically with the following conditions:

  1. Patients with Advanced Metastatic or progressive NETs which are positive on Somatostatin Receptor Imaging (Ga68-DOTATATE PET CT or other equivalent scans your Doctor may recommend)
  2. Patients without options for Surgery
  3. Patients who are not responding to other therapies

The objective of PRRT therapy is symptom relief, slow down or stoppage of tumour progression and to improve survival and quality of life.

If you find this article informative please leave a word in the comment section below. Don't forget to check the rest part of the blog "Is PRRT Safe for you?" For more information do call us at +91 98111 27080 or write to us at info@nuclearmedicinetherapy.in.