Pluvicto

Pluvicto Treatment

The Bassett Cancer Institute in Cooperstown, NY is now offering Pluvicto™ (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) as a treatment for adults with prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive (PSMA+) metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is a type of prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and is not responding to standard treatment options. In some cases, the cancer cells have an abundance of prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMAs), which are found outside the mCRPC cells. Based on their having PSMAs, these cells are called PSMA+.

Click here to download our Pluvicto therapy brochure.

What is Pluvicto?

Pluvicto is the first approved PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy and is a prescription treatment for adults with PSMA+ mCRPC.

Pluvicto treatment helps to slow or stop tumor growth altogether, and may also help to manage the symptoms caused by the tumors.

This new treatment is improving outcomes for PSMA+ mCRPC patients. The Bassett Cancer Institute is the first to offer Pluvicto treatments in our region of Central New York State and we’re proud to provide this therapy to our patients and neighbors throughout the state.

How Does a Pluvicto Treatment Work?

Pluvicto is considered a radiopharmaceutical, which is a prescription medication developed from radioactive materials. The drug attaches specifically to PSMA+ cells. Prior to Pluvicto treatment, a special scan is done to ensure the medication will bind effectively to the PSMA cells. Pluvicto is given through an IV infusion and, after the drug attaches to the PSMA cells, the medication penetrates the cancerous cells and directly releases radiation to damage and kill them.

Difference Between Pluvicto and Other Treatments

The main difference between this type of treatment and other therapies for PSMA+ mCRPC is that it allows cell-specific targeted radiation therapy. Most radiation treatments are given externally, by delivering multiple beams of radiation from many angles all aimed at the tumor. With PSMA+ mCRPC, externally delivered radiation cannot safely treat all of the disease. Using Pluvicto radiation therapy, we are able to target all the tumors in the body because it targets all PSMA+ cells in a simple IV therapy. This makes the treatment more efficient and effective.

Pluvicto Treatment at Bassett Medical Center

At Bassett Medical Center, you will spend the day on campus in our cancer treatment center for your Pluvicto treatment. We will first administer medication to protect your kidneys and to prevent any nausea. The radiation is then administered intravenously over the course of a half hour with close physician and nursing supervision. After the treatment, you will receive medication and fluids for three additional hours. This treatment is repeated every six weeks for a total of six treatments.

Patients will have lab testing to monitor blood counts throughout the course of the treatment. This is to make sure that your blood cell counts (the amounts of the different types of cells in your blood) stay at their usual levels during your treatment. These tests can be done conveniently at a lab or clinic near your home. If travel is an issue, follow-up visits between treatments can be done by phone or video through telemedicine without the need to travel. The Bassett Cancer Institute team will collaborate with your primary oncologist to develop an overall care plan that will work best for you.

Patients, including their families and/or caretakers, who are traveling to Cooperstown for a Pluvicto treatment can enjoy the nearby lake, parks, and multiple attractions – including the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Learn more about our local accommodations and the Cooperstown area.

Pluvicto FAQs

For more information about Pluvicto therapy, or for any questions about cancer symptoms or treatment, please call the Bassett Cancer Institute at (607) 547-3336.

Schedule a Cancer Screening

If you believe you are experiencing cancer symptoms of any kind, contact your primary care practitioner to schedule a screening or call (607) 547-3336 to talk with our cancer care team.

Bassett Healthcare Network delivers Pluvicto treatments to patients throughout Upstate and Central New York at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY.