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.

When Will Lutetium 177 Psma therapy be approved as a first line treatment for prostate cancer

So whenever you have a new treatment option it takes years before it is approved for a particular indication Now once it gets approved for a particular indication then starts the expansion of the indication So right now Pluvicto therapy or lutetium PSMA therapy is approved for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer which means that it's approved for patients who are right at the end of their treatment or their prostate cancer journey But slowly now a lot of trials are coming up which are using prostate cancer earlier on in the course of the disease So there is the upfront PSMA trial There are other trials which are coming where we are trying to see if this Fluvicto therapy and Lutetium PSMA therapy can be used early on as a first line therapy And it is going to take some years before all this data comes in and things get crystallized into the guidelines as a first line therapy or even earlier on in disease But that data which is coming up is extremely encouraging and it's only a matter of time before the Pluvicto therapy or lutetium PSMA therapy gets approved for use in early prostate cancer.

Also Read

When Will Lutetium 177 Psma therapy be approved as a first line treatment for prostate cancer

Lutetium 177 PSMA Therapy as the first line of treatment for Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma

Patient Case Study - Results of Lutetium 177 PSMA Therapy ( Pluvicto ) in Metastatic Prostate Adenocarcinoma

My Experience Getting Lu177 PSMA Therapy In India at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI)

Consult Dr Ishita B Sen

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