An Australian-first nuclear medicine treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer is being led in Sutherland Shire.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights is supporting a trial called TheraP, by producing the medicine Lutetium (Lu-177 PSMA).
This trial is aimed specifically at men with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has continued to grow despite undergoing standard treatment.
Lutetium is a radioactive molecule that attaches to cancerous cells after being injected into the vein.
It targets the cancer while sparing most normal tissue.
This clinical development is being carried out with a network of 10 hospitals in Australia, treating 200 patients where cancer has spread.
Over 18 months to two years, the study will be compared to a type of chemotherapy called cabazitaxel, which is the standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer.
Outcomes of treatment will be measured in terms of shrinking the cancer, improving pain, delaying cancer re-growth, effects on quality of life, safety, and how long men survive.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men and the leading cause of cancer related-mortality for men in developed countries.
ANSTO’s general manager of health, Mark Moore, says the trial will advance understanding of how effective the treatment could be.
“Using our OPAL multipurpose reactor, ANSTO produces a range of nuclear medicines used for diagnosis and treatment of a range of cancers, as well as heart, lung, liver and muscular-skeletal conditions,” he said.
"As the only manufacturer of Lutetium-177 in Australia, ANSTO is proud to be supporting this very important trial, and to partner with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the wider clinical community to develop potential new treatment options for Australian men.”
