Radioligand Therapy Precisely Attacks Cancer Cells, Reducing Side Effects
Taipei Veterans General Hospital introduced Radioligand Therapy (RLT), achieving good results for a neuroendocrine tumor patient by precisely attacking cancer cells with fewer side effects, offering a new option for patients with limited efficacy from traditional treatments.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 19:11
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 19:32 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 03:46 (8h 14m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, May 7) Ms. Hsu, suffering from a neuroendocrine tumor, became the first patient in Taiwan to receive Radioligand Therapy (RLT) due to limited efficacy from embolization and multi-line drug treatments. Its characteristic of precisely attacking tumors with fewer side effects has given her more confidence in the future.
Ms. Hsu, in her 50s, suffered from a neuroendocrine tumor with multiple liver metastases. After embolization and multi-line drug treatments, her condition could not be effectively controlled. Taipei Veterans General Hospital pioneered the introduction of Radioligand Therapy (RLT) in Taiwan in 2021. With the limited efficacy of her previous treatments, she decided to undergo RLT, becoming the first patient in the country to receive this therapy.
Ms. Hsu appeared today at the "Taipei Veterans General Hospital Leads Precision Medicine: Radiotargeted Attack on Cancer Cells" press conference, stating that since her treatment began in September 2021, imaging has shown good control of the tumor and a significant improvement in her overall quality of life. She mentioned that the side effects of the treatment were much better than expected, with no significant loss of appetite, and only mild nausea and minimal hair loss in the later stages of treatment, which gave her more confidence in the future.
Wang Yu-feng, Director of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, explained that traditional cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy) are effective but face the fundamental challenge of difficulty in distinguishing between normal and cancer cells, leading to limited treatment precision and easily causing significant side effects.
Wang Yu-feng explained that RLT utilizes molecules that can recognize tumors to precisely deliver radioactive substances to cancer cells, releasing energy within the cells, much like a "guided missile." It targets tumors to destroy their DNA, minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissues. Common side effects include mild fatigue, dry mouth, or decreased blood cell count, most of which can be well controlled through clinical monitoring.
RLT is currently approved for prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, becoming an important treatment option when traditional treatments have limited efficacy. Chen Ming-huang, Director of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, explained that neuroendocrine tumors are malignant tumors that secrete hormones, with an incidence of about 4 cases per 100,000 people, making them relatively rare. While they develop relatively slowly, they have a higher tendency to metastasize, easily spreading to distant organs such as the liver and bones.
Chen Ming-huang gave an example: for gastrointestinal-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, precision radiotargeted therapy is an important new treatment choice, helping to shrink tumors, improve symptoms, and enhance quality of life. Moreover, Phase 3 clinical trials showed that compared to traditional hormone therapy, the treatment response rate is 4 times higher, and progression-free survival can be extended by 14 months.
The Taipei Veterans General Hospital team has completed over 50 patients and nearly 200 treatment sessions. Vice President Li Wei-chiang pointed out that this treatment is currently still high-priced, with a standard course of about 5 sessions, and each session costing approximately NT$800,000. (Editor: Wu Su-jou)1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, May 7) Ms. Hsu, suffering from a neuroendocrine tumor, became the first patient in Taiwan to receive Radioligand Therapy (RLT) due to limited efficacy from embolization and multi-line drug treatments. Its characteristic of precisely attacking tumors with fewer side effects has given her more confidence in the future.
Ms. Hsu, in her 50s, suffered from a neuroendocrine tumor with multiple liver metastases. After embolization and multi-line drug treatments, her condition could not be effectively controlled. Taipei Veterans General Hospital pioneered the introduction of Radioligand Therapy (RLT) in Taiwan in 2021. With the limited efficacy of her previous treatments, she decided to undergo RLT, becoming the first patient in the country to receive this therapy.
Ms. Hsu appeared today at the "Taipei Veterans General Hospital Leads Precision Medicine: Radiotargeted Attack on Cancer Cells" press conference, stating that since her treatment began in September 2021, imaging has shown good control of the tumor and a significant improvement in her overall quality of life. She mentioned that the side effects of the treatment were much better than expected, with no significant loss of appetite, and only mild nausea and minimal hair loss in the later stages of treatment, which gave her more confidence in the future.
Wang Yu-feng, Director of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, explained that traditional cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy) are effective but face the fundamental challenge of difficulty in distinguishing between normal and cancer cells, leading to limited treatment precision and easily causing significant side effects.
Wang Yu-feng explained that RLT utilizes molecules that can recognize tumors to precisely deliver radioactive substances to cancer cells, releasing energy within the cells, much like a "guided missile." It targets tumors to destroy their DNA, minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissues. Common side effects include mild fatigue, dry mouth, or decreased blood cell count, most of which can be well controlled through clinical monitoring.
RLT is currently approved for prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, becoming an important treatment option when traditional treatments have limited efficacy. Chen Ming-huang, Director of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, explained that neuroendocrine tumors are malignant tumors that secrete hormones, with an incidence of about 4 cases per 100,000 people, making them relatively rare. While they develop relatively slowly, they have a higher tendency to metastasize, easily spreading to distant organs such as the liver and bones.
Chen Ming-huang gave an example: for gastrointestinal-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, precision radiotargeted therapy is an important new treatment choice, helping to shrink tumors, improve symptoms, and enhance quality of life. Moreover, Phase 3 clinical trials showed that compared to traditional hormone therapy, the treatment response rate is 4 times higher, and progression-free survival can be extended by 14 months.
The Taipei Veterans General Hospital team has completed over 50 patients and nearly 200 treatment sessions. Vice President Li Wei-chiang pointed out that this treatment is currently still high-priced, with a standard course of about 5 sessions, and each session costing approximately NT$800,000. (Editor: Wu Su-jou)1150507
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news immediately
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.