The treatment of stage 4 cancer is very difficult. There are distant metastases, and not all of them can be detected and removed. Therefore, treatments that affect all cancer cells in the body are preferred.
For metastatic prostate cancer, chemotherapy and hormone therapy are used. In the most severe cases, when chemo drugs no longer work, radionuclide methods are used. You can undergo the Lutetium prostate cancer treatment in Germany.Β
Lutetium-177 in cancer treatment
Therapy with 177Lu-PSMA is used in these situations:
- Presence of distant metastases
- Multiple metastatic sites
- High PSA level
- No response to chemotherapy, chemopreventive agents are contraindicated or the patient refuses them due to poor tolerability
PSMA therapy is used as a systemic prostate cancer treatment. The radionuclide Lutetium-177 is injected into the human body. It binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is present in large quantities on cancer cells and virtually absent on healthy cells. This ensures the selectivity of the radiopharmaceutical. In prostate cancer, Lutetium destroys the malignant tumor, regardless of its location. The isotope gives off a short beta radiation that spreads over several millimeters, so that healthy tissue is practically not affected by the treatment.
How is the treatment going?
To reduce the size of the tumor and suppress metastatic foci, the drug is administered intravenously. This is done very slowly, over 15-20 minutes. To protect the kidneys, the patient is receiving infusions of crystalloid solutions, and to protect the salivary glands, cold is applied to them. The patient stays in a shielded room for two days after the injection.
A diagnostic PET scan is performed before and after the procedure. It involves administering a small dose of a drug followed by a scan of the patient’s body. The procedure allows detecting metastatic foci, as well as checking whether the radionuclide is able to accumulate in cancer cells. A second scan is performed 2 days after the therapeutic dose of Lutetium is administered to evaluate the results.
Therapy for metastatic prostate cancer with Lutetium lasts for several months. A total of 3 or 4 sessions are required. Their number is determined individually, based on the results of treatment. The radiopharmaceutical is administered once every 2 months.
How safe is the treatment?
PSMA therapy is generally well-tolerated, with a high safety profile. However, it can cause temporary side effects in some patients, which are typically mild and reversible. Common side effects may include dry mouth, nausea, and swelling of the mucous membranes, leading to temporary difficulties with swallowing and speaking. These side effects usually subside within a few days.
Prior to PSMA therapy, the patient’s kidney and liver function are evaluated through biochemical blood tests, coagulation studies, and other clinical assessments. In cases where liver metastases exist, bile duct stenting may be performed to prevent mechanical jaundice. During the treatment period, patients must adhere to a specific diet, abstaining from alcohol and fatty foods. Regular monitoring is conducted, and medications may be prescribed to manage potential side effects of PSMA therapy.
What is the Lutetium-177 PSMA cost?
The Lutetium-177 therapy is already available in leading European clinics. To make a hospital reservation, use the Booking Health website. Our services and benefits:
- Selection of the best Lutetium therapy clinic, which demonstrates high success rates in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer and has extensive experience in the use of radionuclide methods
- Lower price of Lutetium treatment due to the absence of surcharges for foreign patients
- Possibility to undergo the course of therapy on convenient dates, with a shorter waiting period
- Communication with doctors and clinic administration, solution of all organizational issues
We will provide service: we will meet you at the airport, take you to the clinic, book tickets and hotel.