Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men after skin cancer. In the United States alone, more than 190,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.

The American Cancer Society estimates that one in nine men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and one in 41 will die from the disease. While early detection and treatment are the keys to overcoming prostate cancer, researchers are continuously working on finding better and more effective treatments for the disease.

What is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It lies below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate produces some of the fluid that makes up semen. Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate gland.

Traditional Treatments for Prostate Cancer

Treatments for prostate cancer depend on the stage of the cancer, its grade, the patient’s age, and their overall health. Traditional treatments for prostate cancer include:.

Active surveillance: Keeping an eye on the cancer to see if it grows or spreads;
Surgery: Removal of the prostate gland;
Radiation therapy: Use of high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells;
Hormone therapy: Use of drugs or surgery to block the production of male hormones that help prostate cancer cells grow;
Chemotherapy: Use of drugs to kill cancer cells.

Breakthrough Treatment for Prostate Cancer

A team of researchers at University College London (UCL) has developed a new treatment for prostate cancer that eliminates cancer cells with a simple injection. The researchers used a drug called PSMA-617, which homes in on prostate cancer cells.

The drug is attached to a radioactive molecule called Lutetium-177, which then destroys the cancer cells. The therapy is called Lutetium-PSMA-617 or LuPSMA.

The treatment was tested on 50 patients with advanced prostate cancer who had exhausted all other treatment options. The patients received LuPSMA via a single injection, and the results were staggering.

Twenty-nine of the 50 patients (58%) had a significant reduction in their levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is a marker used to detect prostate cancer. PSA is produced by both normal and cancerous prostate cells. High levels of PSA in the blood can indicate the presence of prostate cancer.

Of the 29 patients who responded to the treatment, 18 (62%) had their cancer stopped in its tracks. That means their tumors stopped growing, and they remained stable for an average of seven months.

Ten patients (34%) had their tumors shrink by more than 50%. And one patient’s tumor disappeared completely.

Benefits of LuPSMA Treatment

The LuPSMA treatment has several benefits over traditional treatments. First, it is a targeted therapy, which means it only attacks cancer cells and does not harm healthy cells.

Traditional treatments such as chemotherapy can harm healthy cells, leading to side effects such as nausea, hair loss, and fatigue.

Second, the treatment only requires a single injection. Traditional treatments such as radiation therapy may require several sessions over a period of weeks or months.

Third, LuPSMA has been demonstrated to be effective in patients who have exhausted all other treatment options. Traditional treatments may become less effective in patients who have undergone several treatments.

Side Effects of LuPSMA Treatment

As with all treatments, LuPSMA does have side effects, although they are generally mild. These side effects may include:.

Nausea;
Vomiting;
Dry mouth;
Fatigue;
Infection;
Low blood counts;
Decreased kidney function;
Allergic reactions.

Overall, the side effects of LuPSMA are fewer and less severe compared to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy.

Who is a Candidate for LuPSMA Treatment?

LuPSMA is currently being used to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer who have exhausted all other treatment options. The treatment is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is only available through clinical trials.

The researchers at UCL are conducting more clinical trials to test the effectiveness of LuPSMA in other groups of patients, including those with less advanced prostate cancer.

Conclusion

The development of LuPSMA is a significant breakthrough in the treatment of prostate cancer. The treatment offers hope to patients with advanced prostate cancer who have exhausted all other treatment options.

It is a targeted therapy that attacks only cancer cells, has fewer and less severe side effects compared to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, and requires only a single injection. The LuPSMA treatment is not yet available to the public but is available through clinical trials.