Radionuclide cancer therapy: Unsealed alpha- and beta-emitters

Radionuclide cancer therapy using radiopharmaceuticals may target organ-specific tumors, such as thyroid, prostate gland, bone, or lymphomas, or neuroendocrine tumors. They deliver the radiation that they carry along to the targeted organ-specific malignant lesions with an intent to cure, control, or diminish the size of the tumor or disease. Specific molecular pathways can direct targeted therapy to a specific organ or the entire body of the patient using unsealed α-, β-, and γ-emitting radionuclides. Using radiopharmaceuticals with radionuclides emitting gamma radiation for imaging and different radionuclides emitting beta radiations, or radiopharmaceuticals emitting both beta and gamma emissions, theranostic approaches may be accomplished. The current clinical uses of these radiopharmaceuticals in treating cancer are described in this chapter. Potential uses and clinical trials are also reviewed.