Prostate cancer
We are redefining what’s possible in prostate cancer research, harnessing the power of radiopharmaceutical innovation to detect prostate cancer earlier, and help empower patients and clinicians with information they can use to make confident decisions.
Understanding prostate cancer
Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland below the bladder. While many cases progress slowly, others can spread aggressively, most commonly to the bones and lymph nodes (known as metastatic prostate cancer). Several factors, including age, family history, obesity and African ancestry, can increase the risk of prostate cancer.1
most common cancer in U.S. men2
most common cancer in men worldwide3
Clinical challenges with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer can be asymptomatic for years, grow slowly without becoming life threatening or progress rapidly and metastasize. Recurrence is common, making long-term monitoring essential. This variability complicates diagnosis and treatment planning.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is a widely used screening tool. When paired with molecular imaging, clinicians gain a more accurate understanding to enable more informed, personalized care decisions.
1 in 8 U.S. men will have prostate cancer in their lifetime4
Anywhere from 20%–50% of patients experience a return of the disease within 10 years5
Our Stories
Hear Keith’s journey of resilience and determination as he and his wife, Tracy, confront the unknown of a second cancer diagnosis head on.
Our approach
With a strong foundation in molecular imaging and an increased focus on radiotherapeutics, Lantheus is committed to going further for patients, investigating multiple targets with potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)
PSMA is a transmembrane glycoprotein that exhibits significantly high expression in most prostate cancers, particularly at advanced stages. The expression pattern of PSMA makes it a critical target for diagnosis, staging and treatment planning. In patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), PSMA expression levels in tumor tissues correlate with disease progression, often further increasing in distant metastatic lesions.6
Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)
The gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) can be found in the nervous system and peripheral tissues, such as the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is highly expressed in primary prostate cancer cases, and apart from the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, there is minimal physiological expression of GRPR in other tissues. This makes it an appealing target for a theranostic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.6
References: 1. Prostate Cancer Risk Factors. American Cancer Society. Published November 22, 2023. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html 2. New ACS Prostate Cancer Statistics Report: Late-Stage Incidence Rates Continue to Increase Rapidly as Mortality Declines Slow. American Cancer Society. Published September 2, 2025. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://pressroom.cancer.org/2025-Prostate-Cancer-Report 3. Prostate Cancer Statistics. World Cancer Research Fund. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-statistics/prostate-cancer-statistics/ 4. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. Published May 30, 2025. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html 5. Why Targeting PSMA Is a Game Changer in the Management of Prostate Cancer. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Published February 2018. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/59/2/177 6. Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target in prostate cancer. National Library of Medicine. Published March 5, 2024. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10916925/