Which radiopharmaceuticals are used for treating medullary thyroid carcinoma?

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a type of thyroid cancer that originates from the parafollicular C cells, which produce calcitonin. The use of specific radiopharmaceuticals for treatment often depends on the ability of these agents to target receptors or molecular characteristics associated with the tumors.

In this context, the use of 111-In-octreoscan is particularly relevant. 111-In-octreoscan, which contains the radiotracer indium-111 linked to octreotide, specifically binds to somatostatin receptors that are often overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumors, including certain medullary thyroid carcinomas. This allows for targeted imaging and potential therapeutic applications due to its capability to deliver radiation directly to the tumor cells.

The ability of 111-In-octreoscan to localize in medullary thyroid carcinoma highlights its role as both a diagnostic and therapeutic agent in the management of the disease. Furthermore, utilizing this radiopharmaceutical could aid in determining the extent of the disease, guiding surgical interventions, or assessing the efficacy of treatment.

Other agents listed do not have the same targeting capability or relevance for medullary thyroid carcinoma. 99mTc-MIBI is primarily