Radiopharmaceuticals are drugs that contain radioactive chemical elements. According to the type of radiation generated by radioisotopes, these drugs can be used to diagnose or treat a wide range of diseases, ranging from imaging of brain, heart, kidney, bone and other different organs, to the treatment of cancer and hyperthyroidism.

Radioligand therapy (RLT) uses a ligand to target cancer cells expressing specific biomarkers and combines therapeutic radionuclides to provide cytotoxic radiation. RLT adopts a therapeutic diagnostic approach, in which radioligand imaging of diagnostic biomarkers is used to select patients who undergo RLT for the same biomarker.

RLT combines the specificity of molecular targeting agents (i.e., monoclonal antibodies, peptides or small molecules that specifically bind to certain cancer cells) with the efficacy of radiotherapy, making it an effective choice for the treatment of certain types of cancer. By utilizing advanced imaging platforms, RLT can accurately deliver therapeutic doses and minimize the impact on healthy tissues.