lutetium-177

Lutetium-177 is a radioactive isotope of the element lutetium used as the active component in several radiopharmaceuticals for targeted cancer therapy. It is most commonly found in drugs such as Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) and Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan). These agents are classified as peptide receptor radionuclide therapies (PRRT), delivering targeted beta radiation to tumor cells that express specific receptors. Lutathera is approved for treating somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), while Pluvicto targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The mechanism involves binding to tumor cell surface receptors—such as somatostatin or PSMA—followed by internalization and localized emission of cytotoxic radiation that induces DNA damage and cell death[1][2][3][4][5][7].

Brand names

LutatheraPluvicto

Other names

lutetium Lu 177 dotatatelutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetanlutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide177Lu-dotatate177Lu-PSMA-617