The U-M Health Radiopharmaceuticals Program, part of the Division of Nuclear Medicine, provides advanced targeted therapies for patients with certain types of cancer and thyroid conditions. Our team offers: 

• Lutetium-177 DOTATATE (Lutathera®) for patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors 

• Lutetium-177 PSMA (Pluvicto®) for patients with metastatic prostate cancer 

• Radium-223 (Xofigo®) therapy for prostate cancer that has spread to the bones 

• Radioactive iodine therapy for the treatment and staging of thyroid cancer 

• Imaging and treatment services for benign thyroid disorders 

For more than 70 years, the Division of Nuclear Medicine at U-M Health has been a leader in the use of specialized radioactive medicines, known as radiopharmaceuticals, to diagnose and treat a variety of cancers and other conditions.

Our multidisciplinary team includes physicians, advanced practice providers, radiochemists, nurses, technologists, radiation safety experts, insurance authorization specialists, and administrative staff. Together, we provide comprehensive, patient-centered care throughout every step of the treatment process.

Each year, our program performs hundreds of radiopharmaceutical treatments, including with Lutathera®, Pluvicto®, radioactive iodine (I-131), and Radium-223. We are also recognized nationally for our expertise in personalized dosimetry, which helps optimize treatment planning and patient safety. 

Please talk to your doctor or healthcare provider to learn if this treatment is right for you. If you have any questions, please contact our Nuclear Medicine Therapy Clinic at 734-232-6072.

Healthcare professional, please contact our Clinic directly: 734-232-6072 or fill out this form:

Physician Referral form

Lutathera™

Since its FDA approval in January 2018, the therapy clinic has performed Lu-177-DOTATATE (Lutathera™) treatments. Lutathera™ is most commonly used in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). NETs begin in the hormone-producing cells of the body’s neuroendocrine system, which are made up of cells that are a combination of nerve cells and cells that produce hormones. NETs can be viewed with a scan specific to the tumor called a DOTATATE PET scan. This scan shows where the tumor is located and if patients are eligible for Lutathera™. Other patients may also be eligible for treatment with Lutathera™ if they have a tumor that can be seen on a DOTATATE PET scan, and many ongoing trials are investigating this. 

Lutathera™ is injected directly into the vein through an IV. You would receive Lutathera 4 times, with 2 months break in between. The dose is injected over 30 minutes. To reduce the radiation exposure to the kidneys, patients receive a kidney-protecting amino acid infusion as well. This protective infusion lasts 4 hours starting 30 minutes before Lutathera™ for a total treatment time of approximately 5 hours. 

After 72 hours, you will return for a scan that can image where the Lutathera™ went and can calculate the dose of radiation delivered to both the tumors as well as normal organs like the kidneys.

We will closely monitor your response between treatments and continued eligibility for ongoing treatments before each visit with labs. 

Learn more about Lutathera

Pluvicto™

Pluvicto® is a type of radiopharmaceutical currently given for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Radiopharmaceuticals deliver radiation directly into cancer cells by adding radioactive material (radionuclides) to proteins that bind with the receptors specific to the cancer cells, allowing radiation to be delivered in a precise way to those specific cancer cells.

Prior to each treatment, we will review your labwork (typically obtained 1 week prior to the treatment) to make sure it is safe to proceed. We will see you the day of treatment and then you will undergo the treatment itself which is an intravenous injection taking only 15 minutes or so. After each treatment, you will return for imaging two days later which can visualize where the Pluvicto® went, allowing us to calculate how much radiation went to the tumor as well as normal tissues like the kidneys. A typical course can be up to 6 treatments given every 6 weeks.   

Learn more about Pluvicto

Since their FDA approvals in 2018 and 2022, U-M Health has offered Lutathera® and Pluvicto®, providing patients with access to advanced targeted cancer therapies. In addition to these established treatments, our Nuclear Medicine Division is actively involved in clinical trials of emerging Radiopharmaceutical agents, helping advance the future of personalized cancer care and expand treatment options for patients. 

Radium-223

Radium is a radiopharmaceutical used in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) affecting their bones. To the body, radium appears like calcium and targets areas of prostate cancer impacting your bones. A bone scan is required prior to treatment to determine if you are eligible.  

Prior to each treatment we will evaluate your labs to make sure you are eligible. We will see you at each treatment. Radium is given as an intravenous (IV) injection. A typical course is given every 4 weeks for up to 6 times.

Iodine-131

Radioactive iodine, I-131, is used both to diagnose and to treat certain thyroid conditions and thyroid cancer. This radiopharmaceutical works because the normal thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer both use iodine to make thyroid hormone. By taking advantage of this, we can selectively deliver radioactive iodine to thyroid cancer or overactive thyroid tissue, thereby ablating it.

Thyroid cancer

Patients with thyroid cancer typically undergo a surgery to remove their thyroid. If there are certain risk features on the pathology, they may be referred for treatment with radioactive iodine. The goal of treatment with radioactive iodine is to kill any remaining thyroid cancer or thyroid tissue. 

A small amount of radioactive iodine is first given as part of a scan to allow us to visualize where any remaining thyroid tissue or thyroid cancer may be. Based on this scan, your labs, and pathology from surgery we will determine the optimal dose of radioactive iodine to give. After treatment, we will have your return for another scan which is much more sensitive than the first since we are giving a much higher dose of radioactive iodine to treat the cancer.

Hyperthyroidism

Radioactive iodine is often one treatment option for hyperthyroidism. This treatment takes advantage of the fact that iodine is used to make thyroid hormone and you have hyperthyroidism because your thyroid is making too much thyroid hormone. We first examine you and your thyroid and obtain a scan to determine how much radioactive iodine might go to your thyroid. Using this information we calculate how much radioactive iodine is needed to treat you. 

If you have questions specific to Radiopharmaceuticals or are interested in our clinical trials, please contact our Nuclear Medicine Therapy Clinic at 734-232-6072.

Healthcare professional, please contact our Clinic directly: 734-232-6072 or fill out this form:

Physician Referral form