Targeted cancer therapies: Getting radioactive atoms to accumulate in tumors

Compounds containing astatine-211 (211At) can be used in targeted radiotherapies for prostate cancer, but deastatination in the body remains a significant hurdle. Now, researchers have developed a new molecule with a neopentyl glycol structure that effectively prevents deastatination. The proposed structure can be leveraged to accumulate harmful 211At only in tumors while minimizing damage to healthy tissues, paving the way to effective prostate cancer treatment.