Lu-177-PSMA injection in Germany

Bob,

When talking about “LU” we think it as Lu of Lunar, the moon, and that recalls the Armstrong’s quote of “...one smallstep for man; onegiant leap for mankind”. This time we got LU again as a big step in the path to total cure of prostate cancer. Is this the Silver Bullet for PCa?

Thanks Bob for publishing this link. It is very detailed. This is the first positive results about a radiotracer/radiopharmaceutical, since ProstaScint’s of 2000, that apart from providing a picture of the bandit it also kills it effectively.

Though the cohort was small (24 patients) and with relative advanced PCa status the results are impressive in just 6 months. I wonder what would be the outcome past two years in those of just one shot administration.
I notice their comment on the effects that strong painkillers (opioids) do in the PSA, masking its levels or prejudicing the therapy. It is also striking evidence in the pictures showing the difference in the image studies (positive identification) done in a CT against the 68-ga PSMA PET. Another extraordinary finding is the side effects from treatment which by the ECOG score (quantitative grade in general well-being of the patient in terms of quality of life) was found to be less than Score 3 (status of only one patient) meaning: Symptomatic, >50% in bed, but not bedbound (Capable of only limited self-care, confined to bed or chair 50% or more of waking hours). There were 3 cases of anemia (the worse in Pca treatments) in need of care. Still another fact is that LU-177 permits visualization of PSMA overexpression (prostatic cells) via a simple Gamma ray machine (the ones used in bone scans).

Regarding the lipids and the toxicity in kidneys and liver, they found stable results but these are aspects from the short period of the trial. We need to compare these levels with the results obtained in one to two years period.
So far the marker PSA used to verify outcomes has declined in almost all the cohort, reaching 50% less in 60% of the total number of patients.

I wonder the benefits of LU-177 therapy in non aggressive cases or even in guys naïve of any therapy.

Thanks,

VGama

Thanks again for the links. I hope that many survivors manages to get included in these trials. I will be looking for to get it too if practical.

Just return from my annual consultation in Lisbon and, surprise surprise, the doctor gave me a referral for the Ga68 PSMA PET. He is skeptical about the benefit of oligometastatic treatment in micrometastases cases (my case) but believes in the spot treatment. Though, he agrees with my attitude in looking forward to get cured.

We also discussed about the radiopharmaceutical LU-177 PSMA, which researches he has followed with interest. In any case, he commented that urologists do not decide on contrast agents or radiotracers but can request PET scans. The radiologist is the one deciding on the type and particulars he thinks most appropriate to that particular case. Later the radiologist will recommend the patient to a radiotherapist that would decide on the treatment with radiopharmaceuticals, such as LU-177. In my case will be the radiologist of my IMRT who has the isodose plan of the RT of 2006.
Meanwhile he recommended me to wait longer for a higher PSA because Ga-68 also depends on the size of the tumor (colony of cancerous cells).

No rush.

VG