From Bench to Bedside-The Bad Berka Experience With First-in-Human Studies

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Oncology
• Radiopharmaceutical science

Background:

• Precision oncology tailors treatments based on individual patient characteristics.
• Theranostics integrates diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for personalized medicine.
• Nuclear medicine theranostics identifies molecular targets for precise treatment selection and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in theranostics for precision oncology.
• To highlight the Bad Berka experience with novel radiopharmaceuticals and radioisotopes.
• To demonstrate the translation of basic science discoveries into clinical applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of first-in-human studies involving new radiopharmaceuticals.
• Discussion of somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-targeted imaging and therapy.
• Exploration of novel ligands, peptides, and radioisotopes for theranostic applications.

Main Results:

• Gallium-68 labeled peptides for SSTR-targeted PET/CT imaging followed by Lutetium-177 or Yttrium-90 SSTR-agonist therapy show success in neuroendocrine neoplasms.
• Development of new peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals, small molecular ligands, and radioisotopes (e.g., Actinium-225, Copper-64) are advancing theranostic strategies.
• First-in-human studies of novel agents targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, and neurotensin receptor 1 are presented.

Conclusions:

• Theranostics in nuclear medicine is a key component of precision oncology.
• Ongoing research in novel radiopharmaceuticals and radioisotopes promises expanded clinical applications.
• The development pipeline from basic science to clinical theranostics is rapidly progressing.