Radiotarget

Early diagnosis of primary cancer, prior to any extension beyond the organ in which it was originally developed, usually allows treatment with surgical resection. However, significant proportions of patients with colorectal, breast or ovary cancers develop spread to the liver (liver metastases). Of these metastatic deposits, almost all are unresecable and cure is not possible.

Eradication of such liver metastases might only be accomplished by systemic treatment which can reach cancer cells in all their implantation sites. In order to reduce adverse effects on healthy tissues, such treatment must however selectively target cell tumours.

The aim of this project is to obtain a radioimmunotherapy agent, comprising the beta emitter 188Re and a monoclonal antibody able to selectively target and bind in vivo, on specific accessible biomarkers of metastatic liver. The availability of a high specific activity 188Re solution from a generator, with sufficient purity for labelling applications, has to be developed at GMP grade to support the clinical trials.