No-carrier-added 177Lu production eliminates persistent urine radioactivity: implications for safe expansion of targeted radionuclide therapy
摘要
¹⁷⁷Lu is an approved radionuclide for targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT), first established with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE for neuroendocrine tumors, and subsequently with PSMA-targeted therapy. The widespread adoption of these therapies is expected to substantially increase radioactive waste generation. The long-lived isomer ¹⁷⁷ᵐLu, present as an impurity in ¹⁷⁷Lu preparations, may significantly affect the long-term radioactivity of urine waste. We aimed to quantify and compare the radioactivity of urine waste from real-world patients undergoing ¹⁷⁷Lu-TRT, with and without ¹⁷⁷ᵐLu impurities, to inform waste management strategies.
MethodsRadioactivity was measured in two components: vials and patient urine waste. Six vials produced by the direct production process (containing ¹⁷⁷ᵐLu impurities) and six by the no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) process (without ¹⁷⁷ᵐLu impurities) were measured using a dose calibrator. Urine waste from real-world patients treated with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE (7.4 GBq per infusion, four infusions at 8-week intervals) was collected from a room under special safety measures for radionuclide therapy using a portable toilet system (Wrappon®), stored under refrigerated conditions, and measured using a NaI scintillator at 1 m. Measurements were performed at multiple time points up to 120 days post-treatment. A log-linear mixed-effects model was used for statistical analysis (R version 4.5.2).
ResultsVials and urine waste from the direct production route retained measurable radioactivity beyond 120 days. In contrast, those from the non-carrier-added route reached background levels by day 73.5 and day 77.0, respectively (both p < 0.05).
ConclusionNo-carrier-added ¹⁷⁷Lu production, which eliminates ¹⁷⁷ᵐLu impurities, significantly reduces the long-term radioactive burden of urine waste and supports the safe expansion of targeted radionuclide therapy.