The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit has expanded access to three radiopharmaceutical cancer therapies to Karmanos Cancer Network locations in Michigan.
As part of Karmanos’ theranostics program, radiopharmaceutical therapies Lutathera (177Lu-DOTA0-Tyr3-octreotate), Pluvicto (177Lu vipivotide tetraxetan) and Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride) have been available at Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit for quite some time, but now patients at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Macomb have access to Pluvicto and Xofigo, and patients at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing have access to Pluvicto.
Theranostics cancer treatment uses radioactive medicine to combine diagnostic imaging with therapy, providing patients with metastasized tumors a more precise targeted treatment option.
Within theranostics are radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs). RPTs such as Lutathera, Pluvicto, and Xofigo use radioactive drugs to target cancer cells. RPT targets cancer cells specifically, adhering to them and breaking them down over time, reducing radiation exposure to normal, healthy tissue.
“In some ways, we do a ‘dress rehearsal’ with a diagnostic PET SCAN prior to the actual treatment,” says Dr. Nitin Vaishampayan, physician lead for radiopharmaceuticals at Karmanos. “We use an imaging version of the radioactive compound to detect the cancer cells.
“We can tell from the scan whether the drug binds to cancer cells. If it does, we know that providing a full dose of the treatment will hit and stick to the cancer and spare the surrounding healthy tissue. If the compound does not stick during this ‘dress rehearsal,’ we must pivot to other treatment options that are just as effective.”
Lutathera treats neuroendocrine tumors that have spread throughout the body. Treatment is once every eight weeks for a total of four injections.
Pluvicto treats metastatic prostate cancer. Treatment is once every six weeks for a total of six injections.
Xofigo treats metastatic prostate cancer that is no longer responsive to androgen deprivation therapy. Treatment is once every four weeks for a total of six injections.
RPT is often recommended for patients whose disease has not previously responded to other forms of treatment. Treatments are delivered intravenously (through an IV), non-invasive and do not require daily visits. RPT is painless, and side effects are specific to the therapy, but most patients tolerate treatment well.
“Research has shown great promise, with many of the patients who were on the clinical trials living longer and better lives with radiopharmaceutical treatments,” says Vaishampayan. “We’re excited that these lines of treatment are now available to more Karmanos patients across the Network.”
Karmanos has been a pioneer in the use of radiopharmaceuticals since 2017, offering RPT therapies and participating in landmark clinical trials, including one that led to the FDA approval of Pluvicto. Karmanos has completed nearly 850 theranostic infusions for patients.
To further advance these capabilities, Karmanos invested in SPECT/CT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography) imaging, a hybrid imaging technology. By combining the functional imaging of SPECT with the anatomical precision of CT, SPECT/CT allows clinicians to pinpoint exactly where radiopharmaceuticals localize in the body, monitor therapeutic response and adapt treatment in real time.
“Our goal is to move beyond simply identifying a tumor,” says Dr. Anthony Shields, associate center director for clinical sciences, program leader for molecular imaging, and a gastrointestinal oncologist at Karmanos. “SPECT/CT lets us visualize molecular activity in real time and tailor treatment to each patient’s biology. It’s where personalized medicine truly becomes personal.”
The impact of theranostics already is being felt across multiple cancer types at Karmanos, with a growing number of investigational agents in development, officials say. This integrated approach also enables researchers to explore new combinations, pairing imaging biomarkers with immunotherapies and systemic treatments to improve outcomes.
For more information about theragnostic and radiopharmaceutical therapies at Karmanos, visit here.
