Edwin M. Posadas, MD, FACP, and E. David Crawford, MD, presented “Need to Know: Experience with Lutetium (Pluvicto) for Prostate Cancer Theranostics” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in March 2023.

How to cite: Posadas, Edwin M. Crawford, E. David. “Need to Know: Experience with Lutetium (Pluvicto) for Prostate Cancer Theranostics” March 2023. Accessed May 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/need-to-know-experience-with-lutetium-pluvicto-for-pca-theranostics/

Need to Know: Experience with Lutetium (Pluvicto) for Prostate Cancer Theranostics – Summary

E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology and Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Diego interviews Edwin M. Posadas, MD, FACP, Director of the Experimental Therapeutics Program and the Medical Director of the Center for Uro-Oncology Research Excellence (CURE) / Urologic Oncology Disease Research Group at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on his clinical experience with lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (PLUVICTO®). Dr. Crawford comments on the significance of both molecular-targeted imaging with PSMA and theranostics in treating prostate cancer. He then highlights the success of lutetium and asks Dr. Posadas how this treatment has impacted his practice. Dr. Posadas discusses several exceptional patient outcomes, including examples of patients who had previously undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy or who had a poor future prognosis, noting these patients experienced remarkable disease control with few adverse events. Dr. Crawford then raises supply chain issues with lutetium and the difficulty of effectively treating patients with a popular drug in low supply. Dr. Posadas remarks that the result of current supply rationing means he cannot guarantee new lutetium treatment starts, underscoring the gravity of treatment delays for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Dr. Crawford recalls similar delays in accessing fluciclovine in years past. Dr. Posadas adds how distressing it is to see a revolutionary therapy that offers a life-saving benefit be delayed and offers hope that future government intervention could assist in stabilizing the supply chain.

For another recent discussion on the shortage of lutetium and its impact on PCa theranostics, click here.

E. David Crawford, MD
University of California San Diego
La Jolla, California