Bassett Cancer Institute is on the Cutting Edge of Radiopharmaceutical Treatments

Cooperstown, NY — “I said this right from the beginning nine years ago, I will never give up. I will do whatever my doctors say will be in my best interest. I thank God every morning when my feet hit the floor,” says Ronald Coy, a firefighter from Colonie, New York.

Ronald is a survivor who has been battling a prostate cancer since 2015. Currently, part of his treatment plan includes care at the Bassett Cancer Institute in Cooperstown where he receives a first-of-its kind radiopharmaceutical called Pluvicto.

Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) is a radiation treatment for prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive (PSMA+) metastatic castration prostate cancer (mCRPC), a type of prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and is not responding to standard treatment.

Typically, this medication is delivered through an IV, but earlier this summer, Bassett became one of the first medical practice in America to deliver it via syringe injections. This major achievement was accomplished thanks to the hard work and dedication of every caregiver working at the Bassett Cancer Institute.

“When we first started this procedure, Pluvicto was infused,” explains Stephen Iorio, Chief Medical Physicist and Radiation Safety Officer.

“Usually the treatment would take approximately an hour. Now with these syringes, each treatment only takes about 10 minutes. That’s a big improvement, especially for older patients who want to come in, get the procedure, and go. For me and my workload, it’s also phenomenal.”

Pluvicto works by attaching itself specifically to cancerous PSMA+ cells, penetrating them and directly releasing targeted radiation to kill only these cancerous cells. Treatment helps slow or stop tumor growth in mCRPC patients and may also help manage any symptoms caused by tumors. It is infused every six weeks for up to six treatment cycles. You can learn much more about treatment by clicking here.

“Radiopharmaceuticals are a very new cancer therapy that are actively being developed and refined, as evidenced by the new drug Pluvicto. Further advancements are sure to come in the future and it is very important that the Bassett Cancer Institute is involved in this early stage, for the benefit of the patients who come to us for care from throughout our region, across Upstate New York, and beyond,” says Dr. Timothy Korytko, Chief Radiation Oncologist at Bassett Healthcare Network.

For Ronald and his wife Sharon, the scenic country drive to Cooperstown for treatment was preferable to traveling to a city hospital.

“The medical team at Bassett is so compassionate and friendly. They are all about the patient and not about themselves,” he shares. “I love Dr. Korytko. He’ll be sitting there, giving me an injection, and we’re making jokes back and forth and laughing. That positivity is so important.”

The Bassett Cancer Institute is on the cutting edge when it comes to the use of radiopharmaceuticals in cancer therapy. It was recently selected as a clinical trial site for Alpha DaRT, an investigational treatment for recurrent skin cancers. Bassett is the only New York site outside of New York City to be selected for this important work.

About Bassett Healthcare Network

Bassett Healthcare Network is an integrated health system that provides care and services to people living in a 5,600 square mile region in central New York. The organization includes five corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based health centers, more than 20 school-based health centers, two skilled nursing facilities, and other health partners in related fields. To learn more about services available throughout the Bassett Healthcare Network, visit www.bassett.org. Follow Bassett on Facebook, X (formery Twitter), and LinkedIn. Bassett Healthcare Network is an equal opportunity provider and employer.