A therapy that delivers targeted alpha radiation directly to melanoma cells shows effectiveness in mice with minimal side effects, potentially offering a powerful option for patients with metastatic skin cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers from several Japanese institutions, led by Hiroyuki Suzuki, M.D., of Chiba University, developed a novel treatment that uses the body’s own targeting system to deliver radiation specifically to melanoma cells. The therapy attaches a radioactive element called astatine-211 to a molecule that naturally seeks out melanoma cells by binding to receptors found on their surface. This approach, described in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, allows for precise targeting of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
The use of this treatment demonstrated…