Advancing cancer therapy with next-gen radionuclides

The PRISMAP programme, coordinated by CERN, has supplied 159 radionuclide batches for cancer research over the past five years

Corinne Pralavorio (SR/ECO) and Thierry Stora (SY/STI)

Preparation of radionuclides at CERN-MEDICIS, one of the eight production facilities involved in the European project PRISMAP. Over the past five years, the PRISMAP network has provided access to novel radionuclides, contributing to research on cancer imaging and treatment. (Image: Ana Tovar Pascual)

Nuclear medicine uses radionuclides for imaging and therapeutic purposes. These unstable nuclei decay by emitting radiation, which will damage or destroy the cancer cells. Over the past decade, the “theranostic” approach has emerged, combining imaging and therapy to tailor treatment to the individual patient.

Two products have already received marketing authorisations in many countries for the treatment of neuroendocrine and prostate cancer. However, many other radiopharmaceuticals are in development, although having access to the proper radionuclides during the early stages of biomedical research remains challenging.

The main objective of PRISMAP – the European medical radionuclides programme, coordinated by CERN – was therefore to provide access to novel, high-purity radionuclides, facilitating the research phase for targeted medical treatments.

“By connecting eight radionuclide production facilities and five biomedical research centres across Europe, the project has undoubtedly stimulated research into cancer treatment,” explained Thierry Stora, Head of the CERN-MEDICIS facility and PRISMAP coordinator.

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