Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals for Prostate Cancer

Radiopharmaceuticals are composed of a radioisotope (ie, a radioactive particle) bond to an organic molecule and are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The organic molecule acts as a targeting compound (ligand) that conveys the radioisotope to specific organs, tissues, or cells. Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (PluvictoTM), commonly abbreviated as Lu-177-PSMA-617, is a radioligand therapy that targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is highly expressed on prostate cancer cells. Lu-177-PSMA-617 is indicated for use in adults with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have already been treated with other anticancer treatments, including androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibition and taxane-based chemotherapy. Gallium Ga 68 gozetotide (Locametz®) is a corresponding radioactive diagnostic agent for positron emission tomography (PET) of PSMA-positive lesions, including for the selection of patients with mCRPC for whom Lu-177-PSMA-617 therapy is indicated.