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Development of Radiopharmaceuticals Based on 188Re and 90Y for Radionuclide Therapy
Closed for proposals
Project Type
Project Code
F22047CRP
1485Approved Date
Status
Start Date
Expected End Date
Completed Date
20 September 2012Description
Targeted Radionuclide Therapy (TRNT) using therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals is emerging fast as a complementary modality for the treatment of cancer. The beta-emitting radionuclides 90Y and 188Re have been in successful clinical use during the past decade, but with limited accessibility. The availability of 90Y and 188Re from the respective long lived parent radionuclides, 90Sr and 188W, through a generator assembly, offers the advantages of cost effective isotope availability and wider accessibility. The technologies for producing the above generators have been developed through the previous efforts of the IAEA under the recently concluded CRP on ‘Development of Generator Technologies for Therapeutic Radionuclides’ (2004-2007). The current CRP seeks to make further use of these results to facilitate large scale production of high purity and carrier-free 90Y and 188Re by focusing on the following aspects: to study the stability of the generators, to validate the quality control techniques and to explore automation techniques for large scale production conditions. The new CRP is expected to help interested Member States to adapt the developed technologies for 90Sr-90Y generator and 188W-188Re generator.
In addition, therapeutic peptides, antibodies and particulates will be labelled with 90Y or 188Re for evaluation of the suitability and potential for treating different cancers such as hepato celullar carcinoma, lymphoma, neuro-endocrine tumours and gliomas. The radiopharmaceuticals will be evaluated using in-vitro and in-vivo techniques. The implementation of the CRP is thus expected to enhance both the local capability for 90Y production and support the development of therapeutic products based on 188Re and 90Y for clinical applications..
Objectives
The overall objective of the CRP was linked to that of the main Project 2.5.1.3 (2008-9) “Cost effective radiopharmaceuticals development” and was aimed at finding radioisotope-based solutions to specific clinical needs of developing world in the area of cancer treatment through the development and application of locally produced radiopharmaceuticals.
Specific objectives
Specific objectives of the research project were (a) to study the performance of the 188W/188Re and 90Sr/90Y generators characterized by a prolonged shelf life as a result of the relatively long-lived parent radionuclides 188W and 90Sr, (b) to develop and validate easy-to-use quality control procedures for estimating the radionuclidic purity of generator eluates, and (c) to investigate new radiopharmaceuticals for targeted therapy labelled with 188Re and 90Y.
Impact
It is expected that the main impact of the CRP will be in promoting the introduction of radionuclide-based approaches for cancer treatment in MS. This has been promoted through the (a) implementation of the national capacity for the local production of the therapeutic radionuclides 90Y and 188Re and (b) implementation of the labelling technologies for the preparation and quality control of some relevant therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals based on 188Re and 90Y.
Relevance
The CRP was successful in addressing its primary objective focused on promoting the introduction of new therapeutic approaches in MS based on radiolabelled compounds. In particular, the production methods of two of the most attractive and potentially useful radionuclides, 188Re and 90Y, have been extensively investigated and optimized. A variety of different approaches for the production of 90Y have been developed and validated. Furthermore, the labelling procedures for the preparation of 188Re and 90Y radiopharmaceuticals have been implemented in MS and allowed the investigation of a number of well-established therapeutic agents for cancer treatment and radiosynovectomy. Finally, improved labelling methods were devised for 188Re that led to the preparation of unprecedented categories of potentially useful therapeutic agents.