Cancer is currently the second highest cause of mortality and morbidity in Europe, and its burden is expected to continue rising. As our understanding of cancer’s complexity and diversity grows, it becomes increasingly clear that we must have a broad range of adaptable tools. Current cancer care often fails to meet the needs of people with rare cancers, or cancers that are resistant to treatments or have metastasised (spread to other parts of the body).

Radioligand therapy may help to address this gap and provide life-enhancing treatment for people with limited treatment options, playing an important role in realising the potential of personalised, targeted healthcare. However, its uptake across Europe is highly variable. Many people who might benefit from radioligand therapy are unable to access it or face restrictions to its appropriate use.

Optimal cancer care will look different for each individual, but personalisation and multidisciplinary working are essential. People with cancer benefit from a team of experts who can respond in a way that best meets their specific needs. The nature of radioligand therapy makes it highly adaptable, but also necessitates multidisciplinary working between oncologists, nuclear medicine specialists and others. Efforts to facilitate radioligand therapy therefore go hand in hand with wider efforts to improve access to multidisciplinary cancer care.

It is up to decision-makers to act now to ensure that every person with cancer receives appropriate and adaptable care as soon as they need it – including, where appropriate, radioligand therapy. Read our recommendations for better integrating radioligand therapy into cancer care at the link below.