Comparison Between β-Emitting Isotopes and α-Emitters Regarding Their Effects on Cancer Cells

Abstract

This paper starts with the argument that selectivity criteria require that proper radiation oncology, with only a few very specific exceptions, should be by radio-immunotherapy rather than by just radiation therapy. Radio-immunotherapy can be based on α-particles and β-particles as the cancer cell killing vector. In a subsequent chapter, the distinction between these two therapeutic concepts, based on their distinctive physical properties, are described. Then possibilities and the limitations for specific applications are presented based on the choice of isotope as the cell-killing vector and the choice of monoclonal antibody—or a modern alternative—as the cell-finding vector. For applications with β-emitters, the reader is referred to many examples described in the other papers in this handbook. For α-emitters, the feasibility of the various isotopes and isotope combinations are discussed. Finally, an illustration is given for a rough estimation of single patient dose requirements.