The preparation and quality control of 67Cu, 186Re and 47Sc radionuclides, as well as the development and preparation of radiopharmaceuticals based on them, were evaluated in a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) that ended recently. This IAEA CRP identified important technical issues related to the production and quality control of these radionuclides with theranostic potential using research reactors and accelerators and related to starting material availability. Guidelines and protocols for production routes using medical cyclotrons and research reactors have been prepared and are now available to experts from around the world.
These theranostic radioisotopes can be used in the treatment of various human cancers, such as breast, ovarian and intestinal tumors, attached to the targeting biomolecules such as monoclonal antibodies for use in an important therapeutic modality called radioimmunotherapy.
The overall objective of the CRP was to formulate guidelines to enhance and strengthen the expertise and capability of experts to deploy emerging 67Cu, 186Re and 47Sc therapeutic radioisotopes with ‘theranostic’ properties from research reactors and accelerators for medical applications, as well as to assimilate new developments and research initiatives.
The specific CRP research objectives were:
- exploring efficient production methods of 67Cu, 186Re and 47Sc radionuclides using research reactors and accelerators for research and clinical use;
- developing targetry procedures for the radionuclide production;
- developing quality control procedures based on the production methods;
- developing target recovery procedures based on the production methods;
- developing preliminary procedures for preparation of potential radiopharmaceuticals based on the radioisotopes of interest and preclinical studies.
