Researchers from the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Group at the Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, are leading a ground-breaking exploratory project – TheraGlio-3D – in collaboration with researchers and clinicians from the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the USA, under the UT Austin Portugal Program. The initiative aims to evaluate the potential of theranostic radiopharmaceutical 64CuCl2 in advanced cellular models of cancer.

According to Filipa Mendes, project coordinator and principal researcher at C2TN, this represents “a significant step forward in the validation of advanced patient-derived 3D models”. The scientist argues that the results will allow to benchmark their future application for the translational evaluation of new target specific radiopharmaceuticals with emergent theranostic pairs of radionuclides which are becoming increasingly relevant for the expansion of cancer therapy.

The 64CuCl2 “is easily produced in medical cyclotrons [(a type of particle accelerator for the production of isotopes used in nuclear medicine)]”, the researcher says, and preliminary clinical studies have already shown “selective accumulation of this substance in glioblastoma tumours [(the most common type of cancer affecting the brain)]”.

In addition to achieving the proposed scientific objectives, this collaborative project will also contribute for the advanced training of young researchers in the strategic areas of medical physics and biomedicine. The team includes two Técnico PhD students who will conduct research activities at the School and also on scientific missions with the partner MD Anderson Cancer Center. A scholarship is also planned for a Técnico master’s student.