Modern Al(radio)chemistry to cure cancer

Prof. Valery Radchenko
Research Scientist at TRIUMF
Adjunct professor at UBC Chemistry

Abstract

The use of radionuclides has become more and more common in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer. Targeted radionuclide diagnostics and therapy based on the combination of appropriate radionuclides with selective delivery systems (e.g. antibody, peptides etc.) maximizes precision of the imaging as well as minimizes the damage of healthy tissues during therapy. Furthermore, based on imaging (tumor sizes and locations), appropriate therapeutic radionuclides emitting alpha, beta- particles or auger electrons can be utilized. After production, in most cases, medical radionuclides need to be isolated from the target material and preconditioned for further radiopharmaceutical application.

Appropriate bifunctional chelator systems should be in place to effectively attach some of the radionuclides (e.g. radiometals) to biomolecules.

Several examples of production strategies of medical radionuclides with relation to TRIUMF facilities will be presented.