a radioactive molecule called 177Lu-PSMA-617 that hunts down and kills prostate cancer cells

“ Median overall survival was 15.3 months for patients in the 177Lu-PSMA-617 arm vs. 11.3 months in the standard of care alone arm. Maybe in healthier patients it will have a larger survival.

Is there a reference in there somewhere?

Cyclone-ISU said...

Thanks for the update, FoxRun ---- shortly after you posted this, they mentioned this on the national news.

Any steps forward --- any new treatment options for those up against a brick wall --- that's the brick wall we need to keep knocking down, brick by brick, with a SLEDGEHAMMER!

Always thankful for updates on new trials and treatment possibilities.

Here's to more research and BREAKTHROUGHS!

CYCLONE ~ # Iowa State University

Lutiteum. Lu-177 has been available in other countries for several years. I looked into going to Heidelberg for the treatment a couple of years ago and, more recently, Israel [ShebaMedical Center]

The Lu molecule is attached to a “ligand” (a molecule you can attach things to) which has a PMSA receptor molecule attached (so that it locks on to PMSA).

In about 85% of men with PC the cancer expresses PMSA. But you need a scan to confirm that in your case before you’ll get the treatment. That is what looks like it will be next gen imaging: GaPMSA Scan. It was just approved in US around last December. I managed to get a PMSA scan as part of a Clinical Trial two years ago. The radiologist who looked at it said it was like looking at HDTV. When I last inquired about availability of the scan in the US a couple of months ago it was only available at UCLA. That will undoubtedly change.

The problem is that PC is not the only thing in the body that produces PMSA. It’s produced by your salivary glands most notably, but other organ systems as well. In my case the SUV (max) uptake in my metastases was ~7 and in my salivary glands ~9. I was advised that if I went ahead I would suffer some permanent impairment of salivary glands, so I decided not now. There may come a point where I have progressed and am running out of options that I will turn to it. The results on the cancer have been very positive.

There’s another experimental treatment that uses the same principle [radioactive molecule attached to Ligand attached to PMSA receptor), Actinium {“AC255”).

The Lu molecule spits out an electron upon radioactive decay. Actinium spits out a Helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons), which is about 7,000 times heavier than an electron, so it’s very effective in the kill and also travels a shorter distance thereby resulting in less damage to surrounding tissue. They’ve gotten some amazing results with Ac-255, however in every case the patient’s salivary glands were completely destroyed. Completely. Living without any saliva is apparently not pleasant.

They’re working on other things that use the same approach (radioactive molecule tied to something that will attach to the cancer).

I know you can get Lu in Heidelberg and Israel now. It may also be available in Australia. Israel seemed to be the more efficient place. You get scan and, if you’re positive, you start treatment within a week. Heidelberg (this info is two years old) would do the scan but you couldn’t get the treatment for at least a month.

The problem with Israel (apart from the fact that it’s having missiles fired in) is that, at least as of 2 months ago, all visitors to Israel needed to quarantine for 10 days. And they mean REALLY quarantine — you stay at one of their places, get your meals there and can’t go anywhere.

I hope you find this information useful.