Yttrium-90 (Y-90)
New Horizons in Cancer Treatment
Eden’s LEU all-target reactors and production facilities in New Mexico and New Brunswick Canada will be a major supplier of this critical new radiotherapy isotope.
Yttrium-90 is a beta-emitting radionuclide used in targeted radiotherapy, particularly for cancers that are difficult to treat with surgery or conventional chemotherapy, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Y-90 is most efficiently and economically produced from Sr-90 decay via reactor-based methods. While cyclotrons and linacs can technically produce Y-90, these methods are not widely used commercially due to low yield and cost limitations.
This means the reactors, which currently make up the fragile supply chain for Mo-99 and Lu-177 are the same which also make Y-90, several of which are over 60 years of age and scheduled for decommissioning within a few years. Eden will play a critical role in assuring reliability of Y-90 supply to meet the anticipated growing need for cancer patients both near term and in the future.
The clinical therapeutic applications using Y-90 are Liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma – HCC) and Liver metastases from Colorectal cancer (CRC), Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), Breast cancer and Melanoma.
The global Y-90 market size is estimated at $300–400 million USD/year, depending on inclusion of therapy infrastructure and services with an expected CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 8–12%. The market growth is driven by the rising incidence of liver cancer, growing acceptance of radioembolization and expanding use in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
New Horizons in Cancer Treatment
Recent developments in nuclear medicine have advanced the use of Lutetium-177 (Lu-177). This isotope may become the most widely used isotope for therapeutic treatments in the near future. It has already passed clinical trials and FDA approval for the treatment of prostate cancer and is being studied for the treatment of other cancers as well.
Lu-177 is not made by the fission of U-235, but a nuclear reactor is required to produce it. Lu-177 is made by the neutron transmutation process, or activation process, whereby a parent isotope is bombarded with neutrons to produce another isotope. In this case, Ytterbium-176 (Yb-176) is placed in a nuclear reactor in the form of a target. After irradiation for days or weeks, the target is removed and the Lu-177 is separated from the Yb-176 in a chemical process.
The demand for Lu-177 will continue to grow over the next decade, requiring more nuclear reactor production and hot cell capabilities than are currently available.