Principles and applications of Auger-electron radionuclide therapy Book Section
| Authors: | Pirovano, G.; Reiner, T. |
| Editor: | Signore, A. |
| Article/Chapter Title: | Principles and applications of Auger-electron radionuclide therapy |
| Abstract: | Targeted radiotherapy relies on the ability to deliver a large amount of energy to a very small target. Despite recent progress in the development of alpha- and beta-emitting radiotherapeutics, some challenges remain, such as the possibility of off-target toxicities due to crossfire effects. In this context, the ideal radiomolecule must be able to access the target DNA and deposit radiation so as to cause cytotoxicity in the shortest possible range in order to spare the surrounding tissue. The Auger effect is generated by a vacancy in a lower energy atomic shell that results from either capture of a core electron or external low-energy X-ray excitation. The following electronic rearrangement can cause the emission of a low-energy electron (<30keV) able to travel and cause ionizations within a few nanometers of the decay site, providing an advantageous track structure for radiotherapy. Auger emitters are a family of radioisotopes that naturally emit high-LET electrons exclusively over a small range (typically angstroms to nanometers from the decay site). Recent advancements in the design of biomolecules (e.g., antibodies, antibody fragments and peptides) and other compounds (e.g., polymers) used for the selective delivery of imaging and therapeutic radionuclides to tumor cells, together with the development of appropriate chelation systems and the discovery of novel cancer-specific biotargets, open space for the development of Auger-carrying molecules that can target the DNA of malignant cells. For this reason, Auger-emitting radiomolecules are able to shuttle the emitted electrons close enough to the target DNA to confine high-LET radiation within nanometers, representing a silver bullet of targeted radiotherapy. Auger emitters can be considered an extremely precise tool to target and destroy the DNA of malignant cells, with great potential for improved precision in targeted radiotherapeutics. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | targeted radiotherapy; precision medicine; auger electrons; auger emitters; auger therapy |
| Book Title: | Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging |
| Volume: | 4 |
| ISBN: | 978-0-12-822980-4 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Inc. |
| Publication Place: | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Date Published: | 2022-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 404 |
| End Page: | 411 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1016/b978-0-12-822960-6.00040-5 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Book Chapter -- Chapter can be found within the section "Volume 4: Nuclear medicine therapy" -- Source: Scopus |
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