What types of radiopharmaceuticals are there?

There are three types of radiopharmaceuticals: diagnostic, therapeutic and a combination of the two known as theranostics. They have different purposes.

• Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals – Also known as radiotracers, diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals use low levels of radiation to identify tissues and detect disease. These radiopharmaceuticals are used in imaging tests and use low doses of radiation.
• Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals – Often called radioligand therapy, therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are used to treat certain conditions and diseases like cancer. This type of radiopharmaceutical uses high doses of radiation to kill cells.
• Theranostics – A combination of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, theranostics use the same targeting molecule but different radioisotopes. They identify and treat disease simultaneously.

How do radiopharmaceuticals work?

Radiopharmaceuticals are put into the body. They consist of a targeting molecule linked to a radioisotope. The molecule targets a specific area and guides the compound (radioisotope, the link and targeting molecule) to the location. When the compound arrives at the target location, such as a tumor, radiation is released to either kill cancer cells (therapeutic) or pinpoint a location for imaging (diagnostic).

What are the benefits of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals?

Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are like cancer-seeking missiles that find cancer cells and deliver radiation directly to diseased cells. The precise, targeted treatment spares healthy tissue and cells from harm and causes fewer side effects. It’s different from external radiation because treatment happens within the body, not from beams of radiation outside the body.