Phelps Health Delivers Breakthrough Prostate Cancer Therapy

The Phelps Health Delbert Day Cancer Institute (DDCI) now offers Pluvicto®, a groundbreaking therapy bringing new hope to men battling advanced prostate cancer. Pluvicto, the first FDA-approved radioactive treatment for PSMA-positive, hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer, completes the DDCI’s diagnostic-to-treatment pathway by pairing PET scans with life-extending therapy—here in Rolla, Missouri.

“For more than 2 years, we’ve used PSMA PET scans to help diagnose and stage metastatic prostate cancer,” said Christopher Spencer, MD, MS, DABR, medical director of the DDCI and Radiation Oncology at Phelps Health. “Pluvicto is the next step in care—it’s a therapeutic radioactive drug that follows a positive scan and is often the last line of defense when other treatments have failed.”

Prostate Cancer at a Glance

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. In Missouri, a man has a one in nine chance of getting prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). 

Prostate cancer is found in the prostate, a semen-producing gland found only in men. Metastatic prostate cancer starts in the prostate and spreads to other parts of the body. Other terms for this condition include advanced prostate cancer and stage 4 prostate cancer.

Metastatic prostate cancer is especially difficult to treat. Over the past decade, the number of men diagnosed with metastatic prostate disease has increased. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2003 and 2017, the percentage of men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer increased to 4% to 8%. Pluvicto is an important new treatment in men with metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

How Pluvicto Works

Pluvicto is a precision cancer treatment that patients receive through injection or infusion. The drug travels throughout the body and targets cancer cells with the PSMA biomarker, a protein found on most prostate cancer cells. Pluvicto treatment is given as six separate infusions, and the infusions are about 6 weeks apart.

“Although not a cure, Pluvicto can extend and improve the lives of our metastatic prostate cancer patients with fewer side effects,” said Jason Shenefield, president and CEO of Phelps Health. “Before, our patients would have to travel up to 2 hours for this therapy. We’re excited to offer this lifechanging treatment to our friends, family and neighbors.”

Proven Results

In the PSMAfore clinical trial, Pluvicto provided the following benefits:

• Time: In the clinical trial, men taking Pluvicto went about 9 months without their cancer getting worse, compared to about 6 months for those on another hormone treatment.
• Attack on tumors: While on Pluvicto, 49% of men saw their tumors shrink or disappear compared to 14% with a second hormone therapy—3.5 times as many.

Potential Side Effects

All medications may cause side effects. While on Pluvicto, patients may have no side effects or only minor side effects. Possible side effects may include decreased blood cell counts, tiredness, dry mouth, and nausea or appetite loss.

Determining Eligibility

You may be eligible to receive Pluvicto treatment if your prostate cancer:

• Has spread to other parts of your body
• Has not responded to hormone treatment that lowers your testosterone
• Has not responded to chemotherapy
• Expresses PSMA on a PSMA PET scan