Why Is Lutetium-177 PSMA Therapy So Effective?

Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy targets the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is overexpressed in prostate cancer cells. Lutetium-177 is a radioactive isotope that emits beta particles, which can penetrate the cell membrane and deliver radiation directly to the malignant cells. In addition to its targeted effects, Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy can also help to stimulate the patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Thus, it is successfully administered in men with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer. You can find information about Lutetium therapy cost and specialized German clinics on the Booking Health website.

Who Can Undergo PSMA Therapy With Lutetium-177

Lutetium 177 treatment is effective because it combines targeted radiation therapy with immune-stimulatory effects, resulting in a powerful anti-cancer effect that can help to prolong survival and improve quality of life for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

However, this is not the first-line method, and eligible patients must be carefully selected. These are:

• Patients must have metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), which means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and is no longer responding to hormone therapy.
• Cancer is also no longer responding to chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
• Patients must have a high expression of PSMA on imaging diagnostics such as PET/CT.
• Patients must have good kidney function and no significant liver or bone marrow dysfunction.
• Patients must not have received prior treatment with radionuclide therapies such as Radium-223 or Samarium-153, as these may interfere with the effectiveness of Lutetium-177.

Careful patient selection contributes to outstanding results: high efficacy and good tolerability of prostate cancer treatment.

How Is The Procedure Performed?

The procedure is typically performed in a hospital or specialized cancer treatment center by a team of healthcare professionals, including a nuclear medicine physician, radiation oncologist, and nuclear medicine technologist.

During the procedure, you will receive an intravenous injection of Lutetium-177 PSMA. The Lutetium-177 travels through your bloodstream and targets the cancer cells throughout the body. The procedure itself usually takes less than an hour but you need to stay in the hospital for a few days afterwards for monitoring and supportive care.

During your hospital stay, you may experience side effects such as fatigue and nausea. Your healthcare team will provide medications to manage these symptoms and ensure that you are as comfortable as possible.

What To Expect After The Procedure

Patients should avoid close contact with children and pregnant women for at least 48 hours after the therapy to avoid exposing them to radiation. In addition, men should stay well hydrated to help flush the radioactive material from their system and attend any scheduled follow-up appointments or tests.

In the first year after the therapy follow-up includes:

• Blood tests to check blood cell counts, kidney function, liver function, and PSA levels.
• Imaging studies, such as CT scans, MRI, or PET scans, to monitor the response to treatment and detect any signs of cancer recurrence or progression.
• Consultations with medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, urologists.
• Bone density tests to exclude osteoporosis or bone fractures.

Afterwards patients will likely continue to have regular follow-up appointments and tests, although the frequency may decrease over time. They should continue to report any new symptoms or concerns to their healthcare provider, even if they occur years after the therapy.

Undergoing Lutetium-177 PSMA Therapy Abroad

This treatment method was developed in Germany and today it is Germany that has the most successful experience in its usage. If you are not a German citizen but want to travel and undergo this innovative therapy, contact Booking Health.

Booking Health is a certified medical tourism provider specializing in the arrangement of cancer treatment in Germany and other developed countries. Leave your request with the available medical reports on the website and wait for the call from a medical advisor or a patient case manager. After the detailed conversation and studying medical reports, you will receive recommendations on the hospital and course of treatment.

After that, the Travel department will help you with travel arrangements, including flights, visas, accommodations, and transfer. Booking Health provides translation services for patients who do not speak German. This includes translation of medical records, communication with healthcare providers, and interpretation during medical appointments.

Booking Health can provide patients with cost estimates for their treatment and help them reduce prices due to the exclusion of additional fees for foreigners. The company can also assist with insurance and billing issues.

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