Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) is a radioligand therapy used to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). It’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion every 6 weeks for up to 6 doses. Because this drug contains a radioactive component, dosage and administration involve unique safety steps.
Note: Pluvicto is not a cure for mCRPC, but clinical studies show it can delay disease progression and extend survival. Your healthcare team will monitor your response to treatment with blood tests, imaging scans, and symptom assessment.
Pluvicto is given as an intravenous (IV) injection or infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time).
The standard dose is 7.4 GBq (200 mCi). These units — gigabecquerels (GBq) and millicuries (mCi) — are different scales used to measure the specific amount of radioactivity in each dose.
The IV process can take anywhere from 1 to 30 minutes, depending on the method your medical team uses.
The standard dose is given once every 6 weeks for up to 6 total doses, though treatment may be stopped early if the cancer progresses or if side effects become severe.
Because Pluvicto is radioactive, you play a role in your safety and the safety of those around you.
After each dose, you’ll need to follow radio-protection precautions to avoid exposing others to radiation:
- Limit close contact (no closer than 3 feet) with other people for 2 days.
- Stay away from children and pregnant women for 7 days.
- Refrain from sexual activity for 7 days.
- Sleep in a bedroom separate from children for 7 days, from pregnant women for 15 days, and from others for 3 days.
- Males with female partners who could become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 14 weeks after their final dose.
It’s important to drink plenty of water and urinate as often as possible before and after each treatment. This helps your body flush the radioactive material out of your system more quickly.
Note: The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.
Your doctor will monitor you closely to ensure Pluvicto is safe for you. They’ll order tests to check your kidney function and blood cell counts before and during your treatment.
If you experience certain side effects — such as kidney problems or low blood cell counts — your doctor may temporarily pause your treatment, reduce your dose by 20%, or have you stop Pluvicto altogether.
If a side effect causes you to miss a dose for more than 4 weeks, your doctor may have you stop Pluvicto treatment.
Pluvicto is a targeted radioligand therapy that delivers radiation to PSMA-positive cells.
Chemotherapy works by killing cells in your body that quickly multiply (make more cells). This includes cancer cells, but also some healthy cells.
Radiation safety protocols and how you feel may affect your ability to drive. Discuss transportation with your healthcare team.
Contact your doctor or healthcare team immediately for guidance on rescheduling.
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