Aga Khan Hospital Launches Kenya’s First PSMA Cancer Therapy

The Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi (AKUH, N) has become the first hospital in Kenya to offer Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy, a nuclear medicine treatment targeting advanced prostate cancer.

The treatment is intended for patients diagnosed with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), an advanced form of the disease that does not respond to standard hormone therapy or chemotherapy. Dr Samuel Nguku, the Head of Nuclear Medicine section at the hospital said the therapy uses a radioactive compound that seeks out prostate cancer cells and delivers targeted radiation.

Unlike other cancer treatment options, Lutetium-177 PSMA delivers doses of radiation directly to tumors and minimize harm to surrounding tissues. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can harm tissue surrounding the tumors, leading to several side effects.

“The therapy precisely targets prostate cancer cells using a radioactive compound, delivering a powerful dose of radiation directly to tumors while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissues,” Dr Nguku said.

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Though approved and used in other parts of the world, this therapy has been largely unavailable in Kenya and other regions. Prof Mansoor Saleh, Chair of the Haemato-Oncology Department said the nuclear medicine is huge step for cancer treatment in the region.

“The introduction of Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy marks a major leap forward in cancer care for the region and reflects our unwavering commitment to transforming outcomes for patients by ensuring access to world-class, evidence-based treatment,” Prof Mansoor said.

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among men in Kenya and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Globally, prostate cancer is ranked as the fifth cause of deaths of men.

According to World Life Expectancy, it accounts for 14.4 percent of all cancers affecting men in Kenya, killing more than 1000 men annually.