Capitol News

Michigan State University (MSU) researchers are embarking on a new project to combat prostate cancer using an innovative approach. The team plans to develop a radiopharmaceutical therapy based on the isotope promethium-149 (149Pm). This effort is supported by a Strategic Partnership Grant from the Michigan State University Research Foundation.

The interdisciplinary team will work on MSU's campus, utilizing facilities such as the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, and newly expanded radiochemistry laboratories in the Department of Chemistry. The goal is to create an effective prostate cancer therapeutic using 149Pm.

Carolina de Aguiar Ferreira, one of the project leads and an assistant professor at MSU, stated, "Our farm-to-table approach is unique to MSU, spanning from radionuclide production through preclinical testing." She collaborates with Katharina Domnanich and Alyssa Gaiser, both assistant professors and project leads in their respective departments.

Domnanich expressed hope for future collaborations: "We would love to see our 149Pm project be just the beginning of a wonderful, interdisciplinary collaboration for an isotope production-to-nuclear medicine application pipeline." De Aguiar Ferreira added her excitement about making a difference in patients' lives.

Radiopharmaceutical therapy involves attaching radioisotopes to molecules that target specific biochemical traits within the body. This allows them to reach cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. Recently approved treatments using lutetium-177 have shown promise but offer limited survival extensions for prostate cancer patients. The MSU team believes 149Pm could deliver higher radiation doses more effectively.

Gaiser commented on their collaborative efforts: "This work brings together expertise in isotope production, separations, radiolabeling, and mouse studies from Katharina, Carolina and myself." De Aguiar Ferreira noted their comprehensive strategy extends beyond initial prostate cancer treatment efforts.

The researchers will soon compare 149Pm's efficiency against lutetium-177 by studying its anti-tumor effects and impact on tumor immune systems. They will obtain 149Pm from FRIB's isotope harvesting program. Domnanich explained this initiative began at FRIB's predecessor facility a decade ago.

De Aguiar Ferreira highlighted FRIB’s significance: "FRIB’s isotope harvesting program is a game-changer for our research." Gaiser emphasized MSU's capability: "It is truly novel that we can do a full production-to-preclinical testing investigation of nearly any isotope for medical applications, all on MSU’s campus."