Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceutical Treatment at Epic Care
Precision Medicine for Targeted Cancer Treatment
At Epic Care, we offer radiopharmaceutical treatment, a cutting-edge form of precision medicine that delivers targeted radiation directly to cancer cells. This advanced approach is especially effective for certain cancers that have spread beyond their original location.
What Are Radiopharmaceuticals?
Radiopharmaceuticals are a unique type of targeted cancer treatment that combines a small amount of radioactive material with a pharmaceutical compound. This combination allows the drug to target specific cells within the body, delivering radiation directly to cancer cells while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
Traditional radiation therapy uses either an external machine or radioactive seeds to deliver radiation to the affected area of the body. In contrast, radiopharmaceutical drugs are given by injection or infusion. Studies suggest that this targeted approach to radiation treatment can potentially reduce the risk of side effects while targeting cancer cells throughout the body.
How Do Radiopharmaceuticals Work?
Radiopharmaceuticals are used in two ways:
- Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are given to patients prior to a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. After entering the bloodstream, these drugs attach to proteins on the surface of cancer cells enabling physicians to precisely identify the location and extent of any disease.
- Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals deliver targeted radiation directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. By binding to specific receptors on the cells, therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals can effectively destroy cancer cells or inhibit their growth.
What We Treat with Radiopharmaceuticals
At Epic Care, we use radiopharmaceuticals to treat advanced cancers, including:
- Advanced or metastatic prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, including the bones
- Prostate cancer has not responded adequately to hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery
- Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NETs)
Each patient is carefully evaluated by our radiation oncology team to determine the most appropriate treatment based on diagnosis, cancer progression, past therapies, and overall health.
Radiopharmaceuticals Offered at Epic Care
We offer several FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals tailored to specific cancer types:
- Pluvicto® – For PSMA-positive metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer that has progressed despite other treatments
- Xofigo® – For prostate cancer that has spread to bone (but not other organs) and no longer responds to hormone therapy
- Lutathera® – For the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs)
Diagnostic imaging agents may include:
- Pylarify®, Illuccix®, Gallium Dotatate, and Copper Dotatate – Used during PET scans to locate and assess cancer spread
Benefits of Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceutical treatment offers several benefits including:
- Reduced Side Effect
Studies of patients who have been treated with radiopharmaceuticals suggest they have the potential to reduce the risk of both short- and long-term side effects associated with other cancer treatments. - Tumor Shrinkage
Research has shown that patients who received radiopharmaceutical treatments were more likely to see their tumor shrink compared to patients receiving standard cancer treatment. - Life-Extending Benefits
In clinical trials, patients who received radiopharmaceutical treatments saw longer progression-free survival compared to patients receiving standard treatment.
Radiopharmaceuticals FAQs
Radiopharmaceuticals, also known as tracers, help diagnose cancer by emitting radiation that is detected during medical imaging scans.
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are invaluable in helping clinicians evaluate and diagnose patients. These specialized compounds bind to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on prostate cancer cells. Usually given by injection, radiopharmaceuticals travel through the patient’s bloodstream to locate and attach to the cancer cells. The radiation emitted by these compounds can be detected by imaging scans such as a PET, enabling doctors to identify the precise location of the cancer.
Radiopharmaceuticals treat cancer by delivering targeted radiation directly to cancer cells. They are designed to specifically find and attach to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Once attached, they release radiation that destroys the cancer cells. This approach helps shrink the cancer, slow its growth, and reduce side effects. Radiopharmaceuticals can also be used alongside other cancer treatments.
Radiopharmaceuticals are a type of precision therapy designed for treating advanced prostate cancer. Once your physician determines the proper dosage, the radiopharmaceuticals will be administered to the patient. The radioactive compound targets the cancer and releases radiation that disrupts and destroys cancer cells, while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. This
Radiopharmaceuticals are typically given by pill, injection, or intravenous infusion in an outpatient setting.
Eligibility for radiopharmaceutical treatment depends on various factors including type of cancer, previous treatments, and medications. Before starting radiopharmaceutical treatment, a patient will undergo a pre-treatment evaluation.
Side effects vary by drug and patient, but are often less severe than traditional chemotherapy or radiation. Fatigue or temporary discomfort may occur.
Coverage depends on your insurance plan and diagnosis. Our team will help you verify benefits and obtain authorization.
Why Choose Epic Care for Radiopharmaceutical Treatment?
As a trusted multi-specialty practice in the Bay Area, Epic Care brings the latest in cancer treatment to local communities. We combine expert care with advanced technology to create personalized treatment plans for each patient.
We offer radiopharmaceuticals at our Hayward location. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn if radiopharmaceutical treatment is right for you.
