RDC Development for Prostate Cancer

As RDC (Radionuclide Drug Conjugate) consists of targeted molecules that act as guides and radionuclides with cell-damaging effects, RDC can be used to treat prostate cancer.

Introduction into Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer (PC), the second most common form of cancer in men surpassed only by nonmelanoma skin cancers, is one of the most common cancer types, with an estimated 1.6 million cases and 366 thousand deaths annually. Based on data obtained from 2010 to 2014, the number of new cases of prostate cancer is 119.8 per 100 thousand men per year and the number of deaths was 20.1 per 100 thousand men per year. Even though according to statistical models for analysis, the rates for new prostate cancer cases have been falling for the past 10 years with death rates falling an average of 3.4% each year, attributed to early diagnosis and improved treatment options, the elderly population in the whole world may lead to the prevalence and sheer burden of prostate cancer expects to increase dramatically in the coming decades.

Fig.1 Stages of prostate cancer from I to IV.

Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer

• Age, Gene, and Geography
  Age is the most important non-modifiable risk factor of prostate cancer with a rapid increase in age–incidence in the seventh decade. Racial variation of prostate cancer is pronounced. In the USA, compared with European ancestry, African ancestry has 58% greater incidence of prostate cancer and 144% greater mortality, while Hispanic men have 14% lower incidence and 17% lower mortality. Incidence in immigrant populations from developing countries is much lower than the populations in developed countries, which may suggest that genetic factors are more important. Interestingly, the longer length of stay, the lower in incidence, suggesting that lifestyle is another crucial component of prostate cancer risk factor.
• External Components
  External ionizing and ultraviolet radiation exposure, urinary tract infections, and smoking might play a part in the chronic inflammation and promotion of metastatic spread.

Traditional Therapies for Prostate Cancer

• Surgery
  Surgical techniques are aimed to remove all cancer tissue and lowering the risk of both complications and side effects.
• Radiation Therapy
  Newly discovered precise radiation technologies including CRT (Conformal Radiation Therapy), IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), and proton beam radiation are widely used in prostate cancer treatment, with fewer side effects.
• HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound)
  HIFU is a novel therapeutic strategy for early-stage cancer treatment by heat using highly focused ultrasonic beams.
• Cryotherapy
  Cryosurgery can damage cancer cells by the destructive force of freezing temperatures on cells.
• Hormone Therapy
  Hormone therapy works by interfering with many cell pathways, such as blocking the conversion of testosterone to the more active dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy includes cell toxic agents in form of paclitaxel or docetaxel and cabazitaxel interfering with the microtubule system of fast proliferating cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy
  Immunotherapy can destroy cancer cells through the increased immune system.

Reference

1. Sathekge, M., Bruchertseifer, F., Knoesen, O., Reyneke, F., Lawal, I., Lengana, T., ... & Morgenstern, A. (2019). 225Ac-PSMA-617 in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced prostate cancer: a pilot study. European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, 46(1), 129-138.