UCLA study: Radioligand therapy delays recurrent prostate cancer progression

An updated analysis of the phase 2 LUNAR trial suggests that combining the targeted radioligand 177Lu-PNT2002 with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) can significantly delay the progression of recurrent prostate cancer.

According to findings published in European Urology, patients receiving the combination therapy experienced a median progression-free survival of 17.6 months, compared to 7.4 months for those receiving SBRT alone. The study, led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, reported a 62% lower risk of disease progression, the need for additional hormone therapy, or death in the combination group after a median follow-up of 31.9 months.

Dr. Amar Kishan, the study's first author from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, noted that the treatment may also reduce the risk of cancer spreading widely or becoming resistant to hormone therapy. Because 177Lu-PNT2002 travels through the bloodstream to target PSMA proteins, it may reach microscopic cancer cells that are undetectable by standard scans, potentially offering benefits beyond merely delaying recurrence.