Current status and perspective of targeted radionuclide therapy for cancer

Abstract

Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is a treatment irradiating target tissues with radiopharmaceuticals which are based on molecular targeting mechanism. In this setting, imaging is simultaneously obtained during treatment. TRT has a unique character that therapeutics and diagnostics can be achieved by a single agent so that TRT is a true form of theranostics. Japan is seriously behind the other countries in both clinical practice and development of TRT. Readers may appreciate it as an emerging option of cancer therapy.