MUHC first in Canada to test radioligand therapy for multiple metastatic cancers

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) has become the first site in Canada to enrol patients in a global clinical trial testing a new radioligand therapy for metastatic pancreatic, lung and breast cancers.

The trial, called LuMIERE and sponsored by Novartis, is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a drug that uses radioactive particles to target cancer cells through fibroblast activating proteins (FAPs). The investigational therapy is administered intravenously and may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

“We are leading the charge in bringing radioligand therapy to Canadian cancer patients,” said Dr. Ramy Saleh, a medical oncologist at the MUHC Cedars Cancer Centre. “This trial is a major milestone that reinforces our role as a national leader in nuclear precision medicine.”

Unlike chemotherapy or conventional radiation, radioligand therapy delivers a radioactive payload directly to cancer cells, potentially sparing healthy tissue.

“This therapy is designed to zero in on FAPs, ensuring the radioactive treatment reaches cancer cells while sparing normal tissue,” said Dr. Farzad Abbaspour, the head of nuclear medicine at the MUHC. “This level of precision could redefine cancer treatment as we know it.”

Eligible patients must undergo PET scan screening to confirm the presence of FAPs before beginning treatment.

The MUHC opened the first Canadian arm of the LuMIERE trial for prostate cancer in 2023 and now extends its reach to patients with other advanced cancers.

“Radioligand therapy is an exciting new frontier in oncology,” said Saleh. “Our commitment is to push the boundaries of cancer treatment and bring cutting-edge clinical trials to our patients here in Quebec and in Canada.”