Innovative treatment of metastatic prostate cancer – ICT & health

The first prostate cancer patient became treaty at the Nuclear Medicine department of the Reinier de Graaf hospital. For the time being, the new innovative radiotherapy will be offered to ten patients of the Reinier Haga Prostate Cancer Center (PKC). Patient eligibility for the new therapy depends on a number of criteria, such as blood values, condition, and self-sufficiency.

“This is a scientifically proven therapy for some patients with metastatic prostate cancer, with the aim of prolonging life and improving the quality of life. The treatment is intended for patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body and for whom chemotherapy and hormone therapies are no longer sufficient, “explains Addy van de Luijtgaarden, an internist-oncologist at the PKC.

Radiation metastatic prostate cancer

In the new therapy, metastatic tumors of prostate cancer are treated with Lutetium-PSMA. This treatment is usually given two to four times at six-week intervals. This is done in the Nuclear Medicine ward.

In therapy, the drug is absorbed in metastases. The radiation is then delivered locally to ensure that the growth of these tumors is slowed. This targeted treatment method also ensures that the surrounding healthy tissue is practically intact. Furthermore, the patient usually experiences only mild side effects.

“This therapy means a lot to me, because other methods of treatment no longer provide me with anything. I had to wait a long time for it to become available in the Netherlands. Now hopefully the treatment will work, ”says Koos, 67, who is the first PKC patient to be treated with Lutetium-PSMA.

Not yet on the European list

Lutetium-PSMA therapy is currently very limited. This has to do with the fact that the brand name drug is not yet registered in Europe. The Nuclear Medicine department of the Reinier de Graaf hospital then prepares the therapy on its own. For this they collaborate with numerous other hospitals and receive financial support, among others, from the Team Westland foundation.

“The intense collaboration between multiple disciplines has made the availability of this new treatment possible and we are very proud of it. We are delighted to be able to now offer the therapy to patients who really need it, “says Jan-Willem Postema, nuclear medicine doctor at Reinier de Graaf hospital.

Prostate cancer treatment has seen several breakthroughs in recent years. An example of this is the arrival of an innovative radiation device which automatically adapts the radiation plans to the patient’s real-time anatomy on the day of radiation. In addition, a lot of progress has been made in development saving of erection radiation methods and therapies.