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China's first clinical study of a novel radiopharmaceutical medication for patients with terminal breast cancer has begun in Shanghai. According to researchers at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, the trial involves all eligible patients, including expatriates.

The medication Lutetium (177Lu)-NeoB is now being studied for the treatment of advanced solid tumors, including breast cancer. This drug combines a radioactive isotope (Lutetium-177) with a targeting chemical that seeks specific receptors on cancer cells.

Patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer are eligible for the trial.

This medicine uses a method called targeted radionuclide treatment, where the radioactive Lutetium-177 delivers focused radiation to kill tumor cells while keeping healthy organs mostly safe.

"This is really advanced research. It is a phase 1 clinical trial, and we are on par with Western countries," said Dr Song Shaoli, director of the center's nuclear medicine section. "The trial is free. Patients can enroll in the experiment after undergoing tests and evaluations. Expatriate patients can also participate."

Breast cancer is the leading cause of mortality among women. Though the treatment outcome and survival rate for breast cancer have improved in recent years, individuals with specific forms of breast cancer have a low chance of surviving if they develop metastases.

In clinical practice, doctors provide precise treatment to patients with varying hormone receptor and HER2 expressions. Patients who are hormone receptor positive but HER2 negative account for 60 to 70 percent of all patients. If they have metastases, their five-year survival rate is only 30 percent.

"This novel therapy has shown promising results in ER+ patients. So it is intended to provide new hope to these individuals with terminal breast cancer," Song stated.

Contacts to medical experts

Dr Song Shaoli can be reached at shaoli_song@fudan.edu.cn for consultation.