Production logistics of 177Lu for radionuclide therapy

Owing to its favourable decay characteristics Lu-177 [T-1/2 = 6.71 d, E-beta(max) = 497 keV] is an attractive radionuclide for various therapeutic applications. Production of Lu-177 using [Lu-176 (n, gamma)Lu-177] reaction by thermal neutron bombardment on natural as well as enriched lutetium oxide target is described. In all, similar to4 TBq/g (108 Ci/g) of Lu-177 was obtained using natural Lu target after 7 d irradiation at 3 x 10(13) n/cm(2)/s thermal neutron flux while it was similar to110 TBq/g (3000 Ci/g) of Lu-177 when 60.6% enriched Lu-176 target was used. In both the cases, radionuclidic purity was similar to100%. only insignificant quantity of Lu-177m [T-1/2 160.5d, E-beta(max) = 200 keV] could be detected as the radionuclidic impurity. Production logistics using different routes of production is compared. Possible therapeutic applications of Lu-177 are discussed and its merits highlighted by comparison with other therapeutic radionuclides. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.