Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy at Cancer Centre London

What is Lutetium-177-PSMA therapy?

Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is an innovative treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. It takes advantage of the presence of a specific receptor on the prostate cancer cell surface (PSMA, prostate-specific membrane antigen) and delivers targeted lethal radiation directly to the cancer cells. This means the treatment has minimal toxicity to other organs. As Lutetium-177 kills cancer cells through targeted high-dose radiation, it can be effective even in cancers which become resistant to other treatments such as hormones or chemotherapy.

Is Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy right for me?

Lutetium-177-PSMA therapy is a treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Your consultant may recommend Lutetium-177-PSMA therapy if:

• You have already had chemotherapy or cannot have chemotherapy
• You have already tried other hormonal therapies
• Your cancer is resistant to other treatments

What are the benefits of Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy? 

Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is beneficial for patients with advanced prostate cancer. It can reduce symptoms, improve qualify of life and extend life expectancy.

What happens during Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy?

The treatment is given by an experienced team consisting of doctors, nurses, nuclear medicine technologists, pharmacists, and medical physicists.

Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is given as a drip into your hand or arm vein. It takes about 20 minutes and has no immediate side effects. We will ask you to drink plenty of water before and afterwards.

You will have between three and six treatments, at 6 to 8-week intervals. It is usually given as an outpatient procedure.

What are the side effects of Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy?

Possible side effects of Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy may include fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, and temporary reduction in blood cell counts. In some cases, there may be mild kidney or liver effects. However, these side effects are typically manageable and temporary, and the therapy's benefits often outweigh the side effects.

Cancer Centre London – Trailblazers

Starting in 2019, Cancer Centre London is one of the very few centres which pioneered this treatment in the UK. The treatment is supported and overseen by top experts of our Uro-Oncology MDT. Lead clinician Dr Yong Du (Consultant Physician in Nuclear Medicine) is the first doctor in the UK to be certified to give this treatment to patients. Using his extensive experience in both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures (including PET/CT and radionuclide-targeted therapy), he has treated over 200 patients with Lu-177-PSMA (more than any UK doctor).