Radiopharmaceuticals for Oncological Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Radiopharmaceuticals are able to deliver radiation to cancer cells, independent of their location in the body. Radioactivity is a particularly sensitive “antenna” with excellent tissue penetration. Thus, nuclear imaging via SPECT and PET has great advantages over other imaging modalities regarding sensitivity. In addition, targeted radiopharmaceuticals provide very effective systemic treatment options due to the specific delivery of lethal radioactive doses to cancer tissues, while sparing healthy tissues. Importantly, certain radiopharmaceutical designs are blending diagnostic and therapeutic properties within the same molecule (radio-theranostics). Radio-theranostics can be used for diagnosis, staging, patients’ stratification, and treatment, thus reinforcing precision medicine in oncology.

The incredible amount of innovation in the production of radionuclides with different physical and chemical properties, in the discovery of molecular targets expressed in cancer cells and in the cancer microenvironment, and in the development of chemically diverse vector molecules able to deliver radiation to these targets (e.g., small molecules, peptides, antibodies, engineered proteins, and others), has led to exciting advances in the last few years. Among them are bench-to-bedside translation of novel radio-theranostics in different oncological indications (e.g., radiolabeled PSMA inhibitors), new registrations (e.g., Lutathera), and substantial investments of global pharmaceutical companies.

This Special Issue titled “Radiopharmaceuticals for Oncological Diseases” aims to provide the state-of-the-art in this field. You are cordially invited to contribute with a review article or with an original article that explores novel radiopharmaceuticals for oncological indications or new oncological applications of known radiopharmaceuticals.

Prof. Dr. Melpomeni Fani
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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