J Korean Med Assoc.  2003 Mar;46(3):204-209. 10.5124/jkma.2003.46.3.204.

Recent Advances in Radionuclide Therapy

• Yun MJ
• Lee JD

• KMID: 1958056
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2003.46.3.204

Abstract

Radionuclides are naturally occurring unstable atoms that undergo radioactive decay. There are ways of radioactive decay emitting different types of radiation based on their physical properties. Radiation for medical purposes include gamma rays, characteristic X-rays, negative and positive electrons, and alpha particles. Different from external radiotherapy, radionuclide therapy internally delivers therapeutic doses of radiation to the targeted tissue. Historically, P-32 orthophosphate was used for the management of myeloproliferative disorders. I-131 has been used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism as well as thyroid cancer for decades. It is one of the most commonly used therapeutic radionuclides in the current practice and its usefulness has been well established by selectively ablating thyroid tissue. For bone pain by osteoblastic metastases, phosphorus-32, strontium-89, samarium-153, or rhenium-186 could be effectively used in combination with narcotics. Another well known radionuclide therapy is I-131 MIBG for the palliation of patients with inoperable tumors of neural crest origin. In contrast to systemic administration of radioactive materials, local control of malignant tumors could be done by delivering radiation through an intratumoral or intraarterial route. In addition, radioactive skin patch or stent has a promising role in killing skin cancers, esophageal cancer, or malignant biliary strictures. Recently, I-131 or Y-90 conjugated with monoclonal antibodies increases the efficacy of radiation damage to lymphoma tissue employing the targeting effect of monoclonal antibodies. Likewise, radionuclide therapy in combination with gene therapy seems to be promising albeit tumor specific ways of gene delivery should be further investigated. Other possible candidates in radionuclide therapy are radioactive peptides and antisense oligonuclides.

Keyword

Radionuclide; Therapy; Radiation

MeSH Terms

3-Iodobenzylguanidine
Alpha Particles
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Constriction, Pathologic
Esophageal Neoplasms
Gamma Rays
Genetic Therapy
Homicide
Humans
Hyperthyroidism
Lymphoma
Myeloproliferative Disorders
Narcotics
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neural Crest
Osteoblasts
Peptides
Phosphates
Radioisotopes
Radiotherapy
Skin
Skin Neoplasms
Stents
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
3-Iodobenzylguanidine
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Narcotics
Peptides
Phosphates
Radioisotopes

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