Experts urge wider use of radioligand therapy in cancer care

Policy-makers, doctors and experts are calling for radioligand therapy, a form of nuclear medicine, to be integrated into Belgium’s cancer policy. The appeal was highlighted on Monday by SCK CEN, the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, following a conference.

Radioligand therapy targets cancer cells from within using radioactive substances. Patients receive an injection containing compounds that travel through the bloodstream to locate tumours. Once attached, they irradiate the cancer cells, causing them to die and the tumour to shrink over time.

For now, the treatment is limited to patients with advanced cancers, including certain types of prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours. It is generally associated with fewer side effects, allowing patients to maintain a better quality of life. Researchers worldwide are exploring how the therapy could be extended to other forms of cancer, with estimates suggesting that by 2035, ten to fifteen times more patients could become eligible.

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Roadblocks to adoption remain

A group of experts is urging Belgium to prepare for a broader rollout of radioligand therapy. Significant challenges remain, particularly in terms of capacity. Hospitals need sufficient PET scanners, dedicated treatment facilities and specialists in nuclear medicine. Limited reimbursement and mandatory overnight stays also continue to restrict wider adoption.

To address these barriers, experts are looking to policy-makers. Federal Energy minister Mathieu Bihet highlighted Belgium's pioneering position in the field, describing it as both an opportunity and a responsibility that the country must not overlook.

"We have a unique ecosystem that brings together leading institutions, high-quality infrastructure and internationally recognised analysis," Bihet said. "It is essential, because behind these applications lie human lives, hope and care pathways."

^{A pharmacist works in a laboratory of the pharmaceutical company specialised in nuclear medicine Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA). PHOTO © PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP}

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