What is Lu PSMA (Lutetium-Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen) Therapy?

Lu177 PSMA Therapy is a treatment for patients with prostate cancer, especially those who have become refractory to conventional therapy. Lutetium PSMA therapy helps to slow down the growth of the cancer cells, reduce the size of the tumours and most importantly improve the quality of life of the patients by reducing the pain caused by the cancer.

Many prostate cancers, in particular those that have spread or become resistant to hormonal therapies, express a unique receptor on their cell surface called Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA). When Prostate Cancer metastasizes i.e. spreads to other parts of the body, the PSMA receptor is expressed over the sites of metastases as well.

How does Lu PSMA Therapy Work?

Lutetium-177 is a radioactive substance that emits beta radiation, a destructive kind of radiation. Lutetium-177 is bound to a small peptide which attaches to the PSMA receptor expressed on the cancer cell surface. The Lutetium 177 – PSMA complex, thus attached to the prostate cancer cell, then emits killing radiation causing cell death of the cancer cell. Since the penetration of the emitted beta particle is very small, the surrounding normal cells are spared.

How is the Therapy Done?

Lu177 PSMA is administered intravenously. The patient is admitted to the hospital for 24 hours. A kidney function scan called a MAG3/EC scan is done prior to the administration of the Lu177 PSMA.

What are the Side Effects of Lu PSMA Therapy?

Lu177 PSMA is well tolerated. The most common side effects are a slightly dry mouth, fatigue and nausea. There may also be a slight fall in the white blood cells and platelets about 2 – 3 weeks after the Lu177 PSMA administration.

What is the Response Rate With Lu PSMA Therapy?

The response rates of Lu177 PSMA depend on the tumour biology of prostate cancer, the initial Gleason Score, the extent of disease and the responses to prior therapies. Typically, more than 70% of patients demonstrate a reduction in S. PSA and a shrinkage of tumours following Lu177 PSMA therapy.

When would the doctor consider using this Therapy?

Lu PSMA Therapy is a very specific therapy and is used for managing metastatic Prostate Cancer or when Prostate Cancer is no longer responsive to other types of treatment.

What are the Treatment Schedules with Lu PSMA Therapy?

Most patients undergo three-four treatment cycles at intervals of 8-12 weeks. The number of cycles and the interim duration may vary between individuals depending on the response and interim assessments.

Why should I choose the nuclear medicine therapy center at Fortis Memorial & Research Institute (FMRI), Gurugram (Haryana, India)?

The Nuclear Medicine Therapy Centre at FMRI was one of the first institutes to offer Radio-ligand Therapy with Lu PSMA, and today, the center receives patients from the country and from across the world.

Tare For Liver Cancer | 3 Reasons Tare is Beneficial for Liver Cancer Patients Waiting For A Liver Transplant

Transarterial radioembolization can be used as a bridging procedure to a liver transplant It can be used in a patient who does not qualify for a liver transplant It can be used in metastatic disease as well broadly the 3 indications for a trans arterial radioembolization So in a patient who can have surgery but is waiting for a donor or is waiting for the tumor to shrink or is waiting for some other therapy to work TARE can be a bridging procedure and often patients can be supported on just a TARE for up to 3 to 6 months and that's the time during which the donor gets prepared or the finances get prepared and the tumour remains in control The second option is in a patient who does not qualify for a surgery or a liver transplant So in these kind of situations TARE along with targeted chemotherapy can be used as the only modality a single modality for treatment of liver cancers The third area which is now evolving and which is becoming very important is in patients with metastatic disease earlier 2 cases we were talking about primary liver cancer now we are talking about metastatic liver disease so cancer of the colorectal cancers renal cell carcinomas breast cancer some lung cancers when they metastasize to the liver There may be a procedure especially in those patients where the liver lesions are not responding to the standard chemotherapy So it may not be used as a first line in many cancers except colorectal cancers where it can be used as a first line as well And it is used usually in conjunction with chemotherapy or with immunotherapy So it enhances the response of chemotherapy It enhances the response of immunotherapy So TARE with yttrium labelled spheres in conjunction with chemotherapy or immunotherapy not just improves the progression free survival but also improves the overall survival of patients of cancer.