Advancements in cancer therapy with alpha-emitters: a review.

Abstract

This synopsis attempts to shed light on the progresses made in the field of cancer therapy using alpha-particles. The rationale of selection of radionuclides focusing on comparison of alpha- and beta-emitters, the hurdles and their solutions, and recent developments are addressed. The efforts made in the field of alpha-radioimmunotherapy of hematologic malignancies are emphasized. A good deal of progress has been achieved in the past decade, and preclinical studies with a variety of radioimmunoconjugates with astatine and bismuth radioisotopes (At-211, Bi-212, and Bi-213) have generated encouraging results, providing an impetus for future clinical trials. The onset of early clinical trials with alpha-emitters will hopefully enable the cancer researchers to come up with extremely effective and highly specific "smart bombs" to target cancer cells.