title: Targeted Radionuclide Therapy: Practical Applications and Future Prospects.
abstract: In recent years, there has been a proliferation in the development of targeted radionuclide cancer therapy. It is now possible to use baseline clinical and imaging assessments to determine the most effective therapy and to tailor this therapy during the course of treatment based on radiation dosimetry and tumor response. Although this personalized approach to medicine has the advantage of maximizing therapeutic effect while limiting toxicity, it can be challenging to implement and expensive. Further, in order to use targeted radionuclide therapy effectively, there is a need for multidisciplinary awareness, education, and collaboration across the scientific, industrial, and medical communities. Even more important, there is a growing understanding that combining radiopharmaceuticals with conventional treatment such as chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy may limit patient morbidity while improving survival. Developments in radiopharmaceuticals as biomarkers capable of predicting therapeutic response and targeting disease are playing a central role in medical research. Adoption of a practical approach to manufacturing and delivering radiopharmaceuticals, assessing patient eligibility, optimizing post-therapy follow-up, and addressing reimbursement issues will be essential for their success.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology and Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zukotynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jadvar
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capala
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fahey
keywords: oncology; radionuclide therapy; targeted