Characterization and Efficacy of a Nanomedical Radiopharmaceutical for Cancer Treatment.

Although much progress has been made over the last decades, there is still a significant clinical need for novel therapies to manage cancer. Typical problems are that solid tumors are frequently inaccessible, aggressive, and metastatic. To contribute to solving some of these issues, we have developed a novel radioisotope-labeled 27 nm nanoparticle, 177Lu-SN201, to selectively target solid tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention effect, allowing irradiation intratumorally. We show that 177Lu-SN201 has robust stealth properties in vitro and anti-tumor efficacy in mouse mammary gland and colon carcinoma models. The possible clinical application is also addressed with single photon emission computed tomography imaging, which confirms uptake in the tumor, with an average activity of 19.4% injected dose per gram (ID/g). The properties of 177Lu-SN201 make it a promising new agent for radionuclide therapy with the potential to target several solid tumor types.