Fighting cancer with radioisotopes
Medical isotopes, especially Lutetium-177, play a vital role in diagnosing and treating various types of cancer. Lu-177, for instance, can be paired with targeted drugs to locate and eradicate cancer cells effectively.
Lu-177 is particularly important in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Since it releases low-energy beta particles that can penetrate tissue up to 2mm in depth, it can irradiate cancer cells without excessively damaging non-cancerous surrounding tissue.
Additionally, it releases low-energy gamma radiation detectable by medical scanners like Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). This allows doctors to monitor the isotope’s location within a patient’s body, aiding in “mapping” the cancer.