Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals In Oncology

Radiopharmaceuticals are composed of a radioisotope bond to an organic molecule and are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The organic molecule conveys the radioisotope to specific organs, tissues, or cells. Lutetium 177 (Lu 177) dotatate, classified as peptide receptor radionuclide therapy is a radiolabeled-somatostatin analogue that binds to somatostatin receptor expressing cells, including malignant somatostatin receptor-positive tumors such as neuroendocrine tumors. It is then internalized and beta particle emission from Lu 177 induces cellular damage by formation of free radicals in somatostatin receptor-positive and neighboring cells.