Nuclear Therapy (For Targeted Cancer Treatment)

Overview

Nuclear therapy is a cutting-edge, highly targeted cancer treatment that uses precise doses of radioactive substances to eliminate cancer cells while preserving healthy tissues. Administered either through injection or ingestion, the advanced therapies target the exact cancer location within the body and attack the disease directly at its source with minimal side effects.

At Sarvodaya Cancer Institute, Faridabad, our team of some of the nuclear therapy experts and best oncologists in Delhi NCR delivers some of the most advanced nuclear medicine therapies available in India. These new-age therapies combined with molecular theranostics bring renewed hope to patients, particularly those battling with end-stage cancer or cancers that have proven resistant to conventional treatments, offering powerful results with precision and care.

The different nuclear therapies offered at the centre for the treatment of cancer include:

• Iodine MIBG Therapy: A high-dose therapy for advanced neuroblastoma, commonly found in infants and very young children. It helps shrink tumours that arise from nerve tissues.

• Alpha PSMA Therapy: A highly targeted internal radiotherapy used to manage advanced prostate cancer at the cellular level with great precision.

• Terbium-161 PSMA Therapy: A next-generation radiotherapy showing promise in precisely targeting and treating prostate cancer at the microscopic level.

• Actinium-225 Therapy: A potent alpha-emitting therapy for advanced prostate cancer, offering high precision with minimal damage to healthy tissues.

• Alpha PRRT Therapy: Delivers radiation directly to cancer cells through specific receptors, while protecting surrounding healthy tissues from damage.

• TARE (Transarterial Radioembolisation): Also known as SIRT, this minimally invasive treatment targets liver cancer by delivering radiation directly into the tumour through the blood supply.

• Radioimmunotherapy (RIT): Combines the power of radiation with immunotherapy, where radioactive antibodies locate and destroy cancer cells effectively.

• Radioactive Iodine (I-131) Therapy (RIT, I-131):  A targeted treatment for hyperthyroidism and certain types of thyroid cancer, utilising a radioactive form of iodine that the thyroid gland naturally absorbs. This therapy effectively destroys overactive or cancerous thyroid cells while sparing surrounding tissues.

• Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT): This targeted treatment for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) offers symptom relief and the potential for tumour stabilisation or shrinkage, particularly for patients with advanced tumours not amenable to surgery or conventional therapies.

• Samarium-153 Therapy: A targeted treatment for managing bone pain caused by metastatic cancer, particularly from prostate cancer or breast cancer, this therapy effectively reduces pain, improves mobility, and enhances the patient’s quality of life. It is typically used when pain cannot be controlled by other methods.

• FAPI Therapy: FAPI therapy uses radiolabeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPI) to treat certain cancers, including solid tumours and advanced tumours that don’t respond to conventional treatments. This therapy delivers targeted radiation to tumour cells, minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

• Actinium PSMA Therapy: This advanced therapy is used primarily for metastatic or advanced prostate cancer when other treatments are ineffective, offering a promising option for improved outcomes.

• Thyrotoxicosis I-131 Therapy: A common treatment for thyrotoxicosis, particularly in conditions like Graves’ disease or toxic nodular goitre, this therapy provides long-term relief from hyperthyroid symptoms, with minimal side effects.

• Radiation Synovectomy: This is a minimally invasive treatment for inflammatory joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and involves injecting a radioactive isotope into the affected joint, where it targets and reduces inflamed tissue. This helps alleviate pain, swelling, and stiffness, improving joint function and mobility. It is especially useful for patients who haven’t responded to medications or other non-surgical treatments.

• Lu-177 PSMA Therapy: Also known as Lutetium-177 PSMA, it is a targeted radiation therapy designed for treating advanced prostate cancer. It delivers localised radiation directly to the cancer cells, helping to shrink tumours and slow cancer progression.

• Trans-arterial Radioembolization: Trans-arterial Radioembolization (TARE) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure used to treat liver tumours, including primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and metastatic liver disease. This approach helps shrink tumours and control cancer growth while minimising damage to surrounding healthy liver tissue. TARE is often used when surgery or other treatments are not viable and offers a promising option for managing liver tumours.

Advantages of Nuclear Medicine Therapy in Cancer Care

• Targeted Therapy

Radiopharmaceuticals are designed to seek out and bind to cancer cells, delivering radiation precisely to the tumour site. This focused approach reduces harm to healthy tissues and enhances treatment effectiveness.

• Accurate Localisation

Nuclear medicine offers highly detailed molecular imaging, enabling doctors to pinpoint the exact location and extent of cancer. This helps in early diagnosis, accurate staging, and effective treatment planning.

• Personalised Treatment

Therapies can be customised based on a patient’s unique molecular and genetic characteristics. This personalised approach increases the chances of treatment success and reduces unnecessary exposure to ineffective therapies.

• Effective Against Resistant Cancers

Nuclear medicine can be especially beneficial for cancers that don’t respond well to conventional treatments, such as metastatic bone cancer or certain neuroendocrine tumours.

• Fewer Side Effects

Because the treatment is highly targeted, it typically causes fewer side effects. It spares healthy organs and tissues, and patients often avoid common side effects like hair loss.

• Non-Invasive and Comfortable

These therapies are generally non-invasive and pain-free, requiring no surgical incisions, making the process simpler and more comfortable for patients.

Conditions Treated by Nuclear Therapies 

At Sarvodaya Cancer Institute, Faridabad, one of the best cancer care hospitals in India, we use advanced nuclear medicine therapy to treat a wide range of cancers, especially those that are difficult to manage with conventional treatments. These therapies are designed to target cancer at the molecular level, offering better precision, fewer side effects, and improved outcomes.

Our nuclear medicine specialists personalise each treatment based on the type and stage of cancer, including: 

• Prostate Cancer
• Neuroendocrine Tumours
• Thyroid Tumours
• Liver Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Various Live & Malignant Tumours
• Advanced Neuroblastoma
• Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NETs)
• Lung Cancer