Thursday, October 29, 2020, 16:00
online
Nicholas P. van der Meulen, PSI
Abstract:
The concept of "theragnostics" in nuclear medicine involves the
diagnosis and treatment of a patient using a radionuclide of the same
element, to ensure what you image is what you treat. The concept is
currently being followed by means of diagnosis with 68Ga,
followed by radionuclide therapy using 177Lu.
Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute, are pursuing the idea utilizing the same element, but different radioisotopes thereof for diagnosis and therapy. Over the last decade, much research has been performed with radioisotopes of scandium and terbium. The radiotheragnostics principle was demonstrated with the use of cyclotron-produced 44Sc (and later with 43Sc) for tumour diagnosis, while 47Sc was produced for preclinical therapy studies. Four radiosiotopes of terbium are deemed interesting for nuclear medical purposes.152Tb and 155Tb can be used for diagnostic purposes via positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), respectively, while 149Tb and 161Tb are interesting therapeutic radionuclides as a result of their α- and β-emission, respectively.
The production and use of these radionuclides are discussed, along with
their potential for clinical use in future. An outlook will include
possibilities of producing the novel radionuclides with new
facilities/installations.