Nucleus (Jul 2012)
Ytrium 90 as a radionuclide for therapy
Abstract
Is a pure beta emitter with a half-life of 64.1h and 2.28 MeV of energy, suitable properties for its use as a therapeutic radionuclide. Radiopharmaceuticals based on have been effectively used in the treatment of different diseases such as chronic synovitis, liver cancer, pain caused by bone metastases and neuroendocrine tumors. The results in the treatment of no-Hodgkin lymphoma, that combine the specificity of a monoclonal antibody for CD20 antigen and the pure beta energy of , deserve a particular distinction. Although the half-life of makes possible its transportation, it is sold at high prices for a systematic or large-scale use. The fact that can be produced through a radionuclide generator system, based on the secular equilibrium of decaying to , is very attractive for developing a local production because the cost could be significantly reduced and availability could be guaranteed. The present work shows the ways to obtain , the aspects related to the quality of final product, the main applications and the results achieved by the Isotope Centre in this area.
