Accelerate.EU

In theranostics, a diagnostic test and therapy that both bind to the same target are paired up. For example, a molecule targeting a specific protein on a cancer cell could carry a radioactive isotope that shows up on a scan to diagnose the disease, and then another radioactive isotope designed to destroy cancer cells.

The aim of ACCELERATE.EU is to improve the future of cancer care by pioneering the development of novel radiotheranostic pairs in which the therapy part features the radioactive isotope astatine-211 (211At). What sets 211At apart from other similar treatments is the fact that it emits alpha particles, and so could prove effective at treating cancers that are resistant to beta and gamma particles as well as chemotherapy.

The project will focus its efforts on three highly aggressive cancers: pancreatic, breast and brain cancer, all of which are characterised by rapid progression, resistance to conventional therapies, and high mortality rates. For each cancer, the project will use a molecule that targets a protein found on the tumour cells to carry a diagnostic marker that shows up on PET (positron emission tomography) or SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scans. The same molecule will then be used to carry the 211At to the tumour.

To make progress in this highly innovative area, the project plans to adopt a co-clinical approach, in which clinical studies run in parallel with pre-clinical studies using tumour samples taken from the patient. The team hopes that this approach will improve our ability to identify the patients most likely to benefit from 211At therapy.

In parallel, the project aims to facilitate 211At production and access by developing a new generation cyclotron. A cyclotron is a particle accelerator and so can be used to generate isotopes like 211At. The ACCELERATE.EU cyclotron would be more compact and easy to use, meaning trained medical staff would be able to use it in hospitals to generate 211At as and when it is needed – an important issue given its short half-life of around 7 hours.

In the long term, ACCELERATE.EU hopes its efforts will result in the establishment of a stable, cross-EU supply chain for 211At which will in turn enable a wider availability/access of theranostic pairs using 211At, and a greater ability to identify the patients who are most likely to benefit from them.