Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT)
What is Radiopharmaceutical Therapy?
Radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) is a targeted drug therapy that combines a chemical compound (called a ligand) with a radioactive particle (called a therapeutic radioisotope). When infused into the bloodstream, the therapy locates the cancer in the body and delivers a microscopic amount of radiation directly to the tumor cells. The goal is to damage and destroy the cancerous cells while sparing most healthy tissue.
What to expect during radiopharmaceutical therapy treatments
Your radiopharmaceutical treatment will be determined after a therapy-specific radiology scan is completed. This imaging test helps doctors map the exact area to treat, focus treatment exactly on the tumor, and then monitor how well the therapy works. Your FCS physician will customize your treatment based on your cancer type, overall health, medical history, and any past cancer treatments.
Radiopharmaceutical therapies are typically administered by a team of specialists. A radiation oncologist or nuclear medicine physician with specialized training oversees the treatment. The therapy is usually given by a nuclear medicine technologist who is specifically trained to safely handle and administer radiopharmaceutical drugs.
What is the difference between radiation therapy and radiopharmaceutical therapy?
The primary difference between radiation therapy and radiopharmaceutical therapy lies in how they are administered.
- Radiation therapy delivers high energy radiation from outside the body to target and destroy cancer cells or shrink tumors.
- Radiopharmaceutical therapy uses radioactive drugs that travel through the bloodstream to find and destroy cancer cells throughout the body.
Contact Us
Radiopharmaceutical Therapies Offered at FCS
Pluvicto™
Pluvicto™ is used to treat advanced prostate cancer in patients whose disease has progressed despite prior therapies. It is the first and only treatment that targets PSMA+ cancer cells wherever they are in the body. The full treatment is given as six separate infusions, six weeks apart.
Xofigo®
Xofigo® (pronounced zoo-fee-go) is used to treat late-stage prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, but not to other parts of the body, and no longer responds to hormonal or surgical treatment. The full treatment is given as six separate infusions, four weeks apart.
Lutathera®
Lutathera® is used to treat gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). It is the first and only approved radiopharmaceutical therapy for GEP-NETs that are positive for the hormone receptor somatostatin. Most patients receive up to four doses that are given eight to 16 weeks apart.
Treating Locations & Physicians
Click on locations or physicians for more information.
Gainesville Cancer Center
Lori Grow, MD
West Palm Beach
(Good Samaritan-Flagler)
Daniel Mark, MD
