China's First Prostate Cancer Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Medication Now Available at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital

New Hope for Treatment! China's First Prostate Cancer Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Medication Now Available at  Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

On January 29, SRRSH introduced lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan—becoming the first medical institution in Zhejiang Province to offer this innovative drug. 

This radioactive medicine is the first and currently only approved radiopharmaceutical therapy targeting PSMA (Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen) in China, a groundbreaking option for patients with advanced prostate cancer to alleviate suffering and extend life. 

It is important to note that this medication is not suitable for all prostate cancer patients. It is only indicated for advanced metastatic prostate cancer patients with a "positive" result on PSMA PET-CT imaging, specifically including two groups: first, those who have failed traditional endocrine therapy combined with novel endocrine treatments; and second, patients whose disease continues to progress despite undergoing the above endocrine therapies along with taxane-based chemotherapy. Dr. Chen Yicheng, consultant from the Department of Urology, emphasizes that early-stage prostate cancer has well-established curative treatment options and does not require the use of this drug. Its core value lies in providing new hope for survival to advanced-stage patients with limited treatment alternatives.

Unlike traditional radiotherapy, which often causes significant collateral damage—described as "destroying a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred allies"—this targeted PSMA treatment achieves precise strikes against tumors. The radiation emitted by Lutetium-177 penetrates only about 2 millimeters in soft tissue, enabling it to efficiently eradicate cancer cells while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissues. This approach makes the treatment safer and more targeted.