A drug attached to a radioactive molecule is called a radiopharmaceutical, also known as a radioactive drug. The drug attached to the radioactive molecule guides the radiopharmaceutical to the tumor. “Radioactive” means that the molecule gives off a particle that can kill cancer cells. The risks of using radioactive drugs are small, and medical teams work to ensure the highest level of safety for everyone.
In MBC, radiopharmaceuticals are being studied for their ability to help with diagnosis. They can be used as tracers that allow doctors to see cancer on a scan. In this situation, the drug binds to the tumor, and the radioactive molecule “lights up” the tumor on a scan. Results from scans using radiopharmaceuticals may also help predict and measure response to treatment.
Radiopharmaceuticals can also be used to treat cancer. In this situation, the drug binds to the tumor and delivers the radioactive molecule to the tumor, killing the cancer cells. Because the drug guides the radioactive molecule to the tumor, it is a targeted way of delivering radiation, and less damage occurs to healthy cells.
Click the links below to discover how these drugs are being studied in MBC and for MBC clinical trials studying radiopharmaceuticals.
Introduction to Radiopharmaceuticals
- International Atomic Energy Agency (article and videos): This article and videos explain how radiopharmaceuticals are made and used for cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute: Medical teams work to ensure the highest level of safety when using radiopharmaceuticals, which are a type of nuclear medicine
Radiopharmaceuticals in MBC
- Breastcancer.org: Radiopharmaceuticals can be used to treat bone metastases in MBC (scroll down to the section called “radiopharmaceuticals”)
- Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging: Radiopharmaceuticals are being used for imaging and diagnosis of MBC as well as treatment (scroll down to the paragraph that begins “Molecular imaging is also advancing the care of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer” to learn about radiopharmaceuticals in MBC)
- Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging: Resources describing how radiopharmaceuticals are used for breast cancer imaging can be found here
- Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (video): An FES PET scan can be used to find estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, including lobular breast cancer, that has spread to other parts of the body
MBC Clinical Trials
- Metastatic Trial Search: Trials for Radiopharmaceuticals
- Ancora.ai: Trials for Radiopharmaceuticals
Last Modified on March 3, 2025