Production logistics of 177Lu for radionuclide therapy

Owing to its favourable decay characteristics 177Lu [T(1/2)=6.71 d, Ebeta(max)=497 keV] is an attractive radionuclide for various therapeutic applications. Production of 177Lu using [176Lu (n,gamma)177Lu] reaction by thermal neutron bombardment on natural as well as enriched lutetium oxide target is described. In all, approximately 4 TBq/g (108 Ci/g) of 177Lu was obtained using natural Lu target after 7 d irradiation at 3 x 10(13) n/cm2/s thermal neutron flux while it was approximately 110 TBq/g (3000 Ci/g) of 177Lu when 60.6% enriched 176Lu target was used. In both the cases, radionuclidic purity was approximately 100%, only insignificant quantity of 177mLu [T(1/2)=160.5 d, Ebeta(max)=200 keV] could be detected as the radionuclidic impurity. Production logistics using different routes of production is compared. Possible therapeutic applications of 177Lu are discussed and its merits highlighted by comparison with other therapeutic radionuclides.