Medical science has made tremendous strides in treating advanced prostate cancer. One exciting development is the use of radiopharmaceuticals. This type of precision medicine provides targeted cancer treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer.
What Are Radiopharmaceuticals?
Radiopharmaceuticals are a unique type of targeted cancer treatment that combines a small amount of radioactive material with a pharmaceutical compound. This combination allows the drug to target specific cells within the body, delivering radiation directly to cancer cells while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
Traditional radiation therapy uses either an external machine or radioactive seeds to deliver radiation to the affected area of the body. In contrast, radiopharmaceutical drugs are given by injection or infusion. Studies suggest that this targeted approach to radiation treatment can potentially reduce the risk of side effects while targeting cancer cells throughout the body.
Who Is Eligible for Radiopharmaceutical Treatment?
At Missouri Cancer Associates, we are proud to provide radiopharmaceutical treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. This includes patients whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate to other areas of the body. Patient eligibility for this treatment can depend on several factors. These include the stage and spread of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, and any past treatments the patient has received. Our radiation oncology experts will evaluate each patient. They will decide if radiopharmaceuticals are the best treatment for their health and goals.
How do Radiopharmaceuticals Work?
Radiopharmaceuticals offer a dual approach to managing advanced prostate cancer by combining precise diagnostic imaging with targeted therapeutic interventions.Cancer can be difficult to detect once it spreads. Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are imaging agents that seek out and attach to proteins found on the surface of cancer cells. When the radiopharmaceuticals bind to the cancer cells, those cells become visible on a PET/CT scan. This allows our radiation oncology team to confidently pinpoint cancer cells for treatment.
Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals also seek out and attach to specific molecules found on the surface of cancer cells. Once attached, they are able to deliver a targeted dose of radiation directly to the cancer cells. This destroys those cells by damaging their DNA.
Which Radiopharmaceuticals are Used to Treat Advanced Prostate Cancer?
Pluvicto® is a drug used to treat prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic prostate cancer. Pluvicto is injected into the bloodstream to deliver radiation to cancer cells throughout the body, including bone and soft tissue. This treatment may be appropriate for patients that have cancer that has spread beyond the prostate. Patients whose cancer has progressed after receiving other treatment may be eligible for Pluvicto.
Xofigo® is administered intravenously for the treatment of certain advanced or metastatic prostate cancers. You may be a good candidate for Xofigo if you have had hormone therapy that is no longer working. This treatment is appropriate for patients whose cancer has spread to the bones, but not to other organs.
Missouri Cancer Associates is your Trusted Resource for Leading-Edge Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatments
Radiopharmaceuticals represent a significant advancement in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. If you or a loved one is facing advanced prostate cancer, contact Missouri Cancer Associates for more information.
Our experts can help determine if radiopharmaceutical treatment is right for you. Understanding all available options can empower you to make informed decisions about your care.
Take the Next Step in Precision Cancer Treatment
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and want to explore cutting-edge, targeted treatment options, Missouri Cancer Associates is here to help. Our radiopharmaceutical therapies offer a personalized approach designed to target cancer cells directly, providing advanced care while minimizing effects on healthy tissue.
Contact us today to learn more about radiopharmaceutical treatment options and see if this innovative therapy could be part of your treatment plan.