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Updated: Nov 5, 2025
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Targeted α-therapy in non-prostate malignancies
Hossein Jadvar1, Patrick M Colletti2
1Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, 2250 Alcazar St., CSC 102, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. jadvar@med.usc.edu.
Abstract:
Progress in unraveling the complex biology of cancer, novel developments in radiochemistry, and availability of relevant α-emitters for targeted therapy have provided innovative approaches to precision cancer management. The approval of 223Ra dichloride for treatment of men with osseous metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer unleashed targeted α-therapy as a safe and effective cancer management strategy. While there is currently active research on new α-therapy regimens for prostate cancer based on the prostate-specific membrane antigen, there is emerging development of radiopharmaceutical therapy with a range of biological targets and α-emitting radioisotopes for malignancies other than the prostate cancer. This article provides a brief review of preclinical and first-in-human studies of targeted α-therapy in the cancers of brain, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreas, ovary, and the urinary bladder. The data on leukemia, melanoma, myeloma, and neuroendocrine tumors will also be presented. It is anticipated that with further research the emerging role of targeted α-therapy in cancer management will be defined and validated.
Insights
Targeted alpha-particle therapy (TAT) shows promise for various cancers beyond prostate. Research is expanding to new targets and alpha-emitters, validating TAT as a precision cancer management strategy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiochemistry
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Advances in cancer biology and radiochemistry enable targeted alpha-therapy (TAT).
- The success of Radium-223 dichloride (²²³Ra) in prostate cancer highlights TAT's potential.
- Research is exploring new alpha-emitters and biological targets for broader cancer applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review preclinical and first-in-human studies of TAT in various malignancies.
- To highlight the expanding scope of TAT beyond prostate cancer.
- To discuss the future potential of TAT in precision cancer management.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical research.
- Analysis of first-in-human clinical trial data.
- Synthesis of current data on targeted alpha-emitters and their biological targets.
Main Results:
- TAT is being investigated for brain, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreas, ovarian, and bladder cancers.
- Studies also include leukemia, melanoma, myeloma, and neuroendocrine tumors.
- Emerging data suggest TAT's safety and efficacy across diverse cancer types.
Conclusions:
- Targeted alpha-therapy is a rapidly developing field with broad applicability in oncology.
- Further research is needed to define and validate the role of TAT in various cancer treatments.
- TAT represents an innovative approach to precision cancer management.
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