My research is focused on the interactions of radiation with cells at a fundamental level. We are seeing that the use of radionuclides that deliver alpha particle and Auger electron emissions, often referred to as high linear energy interactions, have the potential to be transformative for cancer therapy. This award provides an opportunity to develop a more detailed understanding of these interactions toward a goal of realizing the full potential of radionuclides such as 212Pb for cancer patients. We are grateful to the Medical Research Council and incredibly excited about the collaboration with the Perspective Therapeutics team.
Dr Samantha Terry, Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer)
14 March 2023
$1million awarded for alpha particle therapy for neuroendocrine cancer research
Radiobiology researchers at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences have received $1million in funding to support preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies for neuroendocrine tumor treatments.
The research grant was awarded to Perspective Therapeutics from the Medical Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and directed to Perspective Therapeutics collaborator Dr. Samantha Terry, an expert in radiobiology at King’s.
Neuroendocrine cancers begin in hormone-releasing neuroendocrine cells and can occur anywhere in the body including the lungs, appendix, small intestine, rectum and pancreas. Although rare, they are very hard to treat; there is therefore a need for novel options to treat both the original tumor and cancer cells that have spread throughout the body.
Michael Schultz, Perspective Therapeutics Chief Scientific Officer, said:
“We’re delighted to see the grant from the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC) go to our collaborator Dr. Samantha Terry. We are continuously working towards advancing the understanding of how our lead drug candidate [212Pb]VMT-𝛼-NET can potentially transform the treatment landscape for neuroendocrine cancers. The decay series of 212Pb results in the emission of high energy alpha-particle emissions that travel short distances in tissues. By coupling 212Pb with high precision peptide cancer cell specific receptor-directed radioligands, a more precise delivery of these high energy particles to tumors can be realized. We believe the mechanism of action creates an ideal agent for precise cancer killing while sparing nearby healthy tissue. We are excited to be part of the research project and providing support for thought leading scientists in this area of research.”
Perspective Therapeutics, Inc., formerly known as Isoray, Inc., is a precision oncology company developing alpha-particle therapies and complementary diagnostic imaging agents and an innovator in seed brachytherapy powering expanding treatment options for multiple cancers.
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