What is Lutetium-177?
Lutetium-177 is used in targeted radionuclide therapy to treat neuroendocrine tumours and prostate cancer. Lutetium produced in nuclear reactors is used to destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected.
How does Lutetium-177 treat cancer?
The radioactive Lutetium-177 binds to a molecule that attaches itself to the diseased cells to destroy them. It has achieved success in inducing long-term remission in some prostate cancer patients.
How is Lutetium-177 produced?
An isotope Production System on a Bruce Power unit can be used to turn targets into medical isotopes through a process referred to as irradiation.
Bruce Power will enable the supply of Lutetium-177 by irradiating the stable isotope, Ytterbium-176.
The ytterbium-176 is sealed in special containers called targets and inserted in the reactor for the required irradiation period. After irradiation, the targets are sent for processing and distribution to health care facilities.
Learn more at www.fightingcancertogether.ca
