Alpha Therapy

Know all about Alpha Therapy- A New Frontier in Precision Molecular Oncology

What is Alpha Therapy?

Alpha therapy is a form of advanced targeted radionuclide therapy that holds the ability to deliver high cytotoxicity to the targeted cancer cells. Radioisotopes that emit alpha particles like Actinium 225, Bismuth 213 and Lead 212 seem particularly promising to selectively destroy cancer cells making use of their high but concentrated energy. Alpha therapy is touted to be a promising breakthrough in the treatment of cancers that have spread or metastasised - commonly prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, besides others.

How does it work?

Targeted Alpha Therapy is based on the coupling of alpha particle emitting radioisotopes to tumour selective carrier molecules, such as peptides or monoclonal antibodies. These molecules have the ability to selectively target tumour cells even if they are spread throughout the body. They recognize the targeted cancer cells through antigens that are expressed on the cell surface and can bind selectively to these cells, similar a key fitting into a lock. In targeted alpha therapy these carrier molecules serve as vehicles to transport the radioisotopes to the cancer cells. This is called the "magic bullet" approach. Alpha particles have a high energy in the range of 5-9 MeV and at the same time a very short path length in human tissue below 0.1 mm. Consequently, the use of alpha emitters allows the specific targeting and killing of individual malignant cells, while minimizing the toxicity to surrounding healthy tissue. Alpha particles are more likely than other types of radiation to cause double-strand breaks to DNA molecules, which is one of several effective causes of cell death.

How is it better?

The main objective of TAT is the ability to selectively deliver cytotoxic radiation to cancer cells that causes minimal toxicity to surrounding healthy tissues, using optimized vehicles that deliver a radioemitter particle directly into the tumor cells. For comparison, beta radiation treatments (like iodine-131) can require between 100-300 milicurie amounts. Alpha therapy can be effective with as little as 10 Milicurie amounts, varying between treatments of course. Is it dangerous? To the cancer tissues—absolutely. To the healthy tissues—not when administered correctly.

Who can benefit from Alpha Therapy?

Alpha therapy has been clinically used for treating metastatic prostatic cancers, neuroendocrine tumors and brain tumors (gliomas) with remarkable results. Clinical trials are underway for assessing their efficacy and possible use in more types of cancers. Prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy or radionuclide therapy (PRRT/PRLT) does not preclude the use of alpha therapy in suitable candidates. It is available at few specialized molecular therapy centres worldwide. Available in India since almost 5 years at more than 10 centres across the country, alpha therapy is a very safe and effective precision molecular therapy for many cancers.

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