Pioneering the Future with Lutetium-177 Vipivotide Tetraxetan (Pluvicto): A Revolutionary Approach to Prostate Cancer
2025 PSMA Conference Highlights Progress in Theranostics, Offering Future Prospects
Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, Kent Greer's battle took an unexpected turn in 2022 when his disease metastasized. After undergoing a grueling round of chemotherapy and facing numerous challenges, Greer was referred to the Outpatient Theranostics Center at our website - a beacon of hope for patients like him.
At this state-of-the-art facility, Greer discovered he was a suitable candidate for Lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto) - a groundbreaking radionuclide therapy. Intended for those with PSMA-positive metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC), it targets cancer cells, sparing healthy tissue. Pluvicto is administered to individuals who have undergone surgery and received androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) therapy.
In 2025, Greer shared his remarkable journey during the 2025 PSMA & Beyond Conference at a session moderated by Jeremie Calais, MD, PhD. This prestigious event, co-hosted by UCLA, UCSF, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, brought together industry leaders to discuss the current and future landscape of prostate cancer care.
"I wish I could have avoided chemotherapy, a brutal experience that weakened my defenses against other illnesses like COVID-19," Greer expressed. "Pluvicto has left me with minimal side effects."
UCLA at the Forefront of PSMA-positive Prostate Cancer Monitoring and Treatment
our website was one of the first U.S. sites to participate in a phase II clinical trial evaluating Pluvicto's safety and effectiveness. Following its licensing by Novartis and subsequent FDA approval, Pluvicto has become accessible to adults with advanced metastatic prostate cancer that has proven unresponsive to other treatments.
Theranostics agents, such as Pluvicto, work by delivering radiation to cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue. The process begins with the administration of a diagnostic agent that allows clinicians to visualize tumors and antigen expression via positron emission tomography (PET). Based on these findings, patients receive the therapeutic component of the therapy, which targets the same antigen and induces DNA damage and cell death in cancer cells.
After receiving his initial round of Pluvicto, Greer enrolled in a phase II trial to assess his response to a second round of treatment. Preliminary studies suggest that re-treatment with Pluvicto in patients with an initial favorable response could lead to improved survival outcomes and disease response.
In March 2025, the FDA broadened Pluvicto's indication for earlier use in PSMA-positive prostate cancer patients, allowing them access to the treatment without first undergoing chemotherapy.
"I'm here today to pave the way for others," Greer said, "I want to advocate for immediate Pluvicto treatment without the need for chemotherapy, and I'm glad this is now possible."
Navigating Radiation Safety and Ecology
At our website, patients receiving Pluvicto are treated at the Outpatient Theranostics Center - one of the largest clinics of its kind in the U.S. Opened in February 2024, the 3,000-square-foot facility in Westwood houses cutting-edge infrastructure to protect both patients and staff from potential radioactive side effects.
A key aspect of the center's operation is adherence to radiation safety practices. Catherine Meyer, PhD, an assistant professor in UCLA's Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, emphasized the importance of these practices during her presentation at the PSMA & Beyond Conference. Though international agencies, like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), regulate nuclear materials and exposure limits, each country may have different standards for discharging patients post-treatment.
In the U.S., patients released after radionuclide therapy may be asked to maintain distance from others or even isolate for a specific duration, depending on their treatment and individual factors. Our website, with its stringent safety measures, has become a pioneer in successfully implementing safe and effective targeted radionuclide therapy for patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
- Kent Greer's journey with metastatic prostate cancer led him to the Outpatient Theranostics Center, which specializes in health-and-wellness therapies-and-treatments like Lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto), a groundbreaking treatment for chronic-diseases such as chronic-kidney-disease and cance.
- Lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto) is a revolutionary radionuclide therapy used for medical-conditions like PSMA-positive metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC), sparing healthy tissue while delivering radiation to cancer cells.
- As Pluvicto becomes more accessible due to FDA approval and broader indications, patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer that have proven unresponsive to other treatments can benefit from this new approach without the need for chemotherapy, potentially improving survival outcomes and disease response.
- Ensuring radiation safety during Pluvicto treatment is crucial, and facilities like the Outpatient Theranostics Center have implemented stringent safety measures to protect both patients and staff, adhering to radiation safety practices as emphasized by experts like Catherine Meyer, PhD.
