One of the most important campuses of contemporary medicine is one of the radiopharmaceuticals. These radioactive compounds have acquired a great deal of relevance in the clinical practice of debating its application in diagnostic and therapeutic finishes, primarily in cancer and oncological disorders, and in specific cardiac and neuronal applications.
The radiopharmaceuticals are used as a contrast compound that is injected into the patient and allowed to observe in vivo the interior of the organism in a non-invasive manner in order to obtain the molecular image of the organism or of the disease determined to be studied.
In tests with nuclear medicine images, such as positron emission tomography (TEP), uses radiopharmaceuticals connected to molecules that have specific (white) sites on the surface of cancer cells. Using specialized cameras it is possible to observe diminutive deposits of cancer cells. This help calculates the dissemination of cancer in the body.
Ahora en marzo la UNAM provides the diagnostic and hospital units of the City of Mexico and the metropolitan area a new type of radiopharmaceutical, fluorine 18, with the ability to detect neuroendocrine tumors originating in any part of the body, especially in the intestinal tract, .
By means of the Radiofarmacia-Cyclotron Union (VGK) of the Faculty of Medicine, the Maximum Study House maintains an indisputable lead of more than 20 years in producing distinct types of radiopharmaceuticals in Latin America.
Since initiating its operations (2000) VGK always marked the pauta to follow in the diagnostic studies in the various clinical centers of attention to try direct radioactive drugs to specific molecular whites.
‘N Escala mundial la VGK is a referent of the International Atomic Energy Agency for which it has carried out various missions in various burning areas in the production of radioactive drugs and nuclear medicine techniques.
“Encouraged by David Pérez to have a year of physics, chemistry, biochemistry and then experts working in the field VGK in the implementation of the method to produce the fluorine 18, which has a large demand in the medical clinic for its efficiency in detecting tumors ”, said in an interview with Vertigo the doctor Miguel Ángel Ávila Rodríguez, title of the VGK of the Faculty of Medicine.
Currently the technology that is used in core medicine and the advances in radiopharmaceuticals allow the incorporation into the clinical practice of new tracers with distinct biological characteristics, which are more sensitive and specific in the detection of differentials.
The motivation for creating a new drug like fluorine 18 is what the radioactive drug laboratory has been producing since the gallium 68 radiopharmaceutical, which has the same ability to treat neuroendocrine tumors as not having any means of producing this isotope. The hacián was importing a generator from germanio 68 to galio 68 that one time in the laboratory had a life util of six months and only generaban to the three or four doses. Conforms to the months, days and steps to produce one.
In addition, the process is costly and the radioactive molecule has a life span of 70 days.
The fluorine 18 logs in the cyclotron or the particle accelerator of the UNAM is compounded by the patent, a molecule that attaches to the chemical structure of a fluorine atom 18: these are components and place in the radiopharmaceutical that, once administered to the patient, directs the molecule to the site of interest and leaves it the image.
The production of the new radiopharmaceutical by the Faculty of Medicine avoids importation and reduces costs. Although the demand for fluoride 18 is increasing, sufficient doses are required for the attention of patients. Además al tener una vida media burgemeester a la del galio 68 serab posible llevarlo a lugare más distantes.
Functional technology
Like other nucleic and oncologic physicians, Dr. Avila considers that “positron emission tomography is a functional imaging technique that has been transformed into a fundamental herringbone in the best way of oncology patients”.
The doctor in Physics Medicine explains that the tomography for the emission of positrons PET has a very high cost because it uses a short-range radio media technology, on-demand products, all days. Without a ban on radiopharmacy and the study unit PET of the UNAM ofrecen adequately adequate persons with a social profile of many resources, derechohabientes of IMSS e ISSSTE the integrants of the National University.
If well VGK of the Faculty of Medicine focuses exclusively on diagnostics, the university professor also states that nuclear medicine has the option of using radiopharmaceuticals for therapy. “In the case of neuroendocrine tumors, the octreotide with lutecio 177, an isotope radio emission of energy particles of short range, marked with the objective of depositing its radiation dose in the zone where the tumors are produced. In Mexico it is possible to consume and is ideal for this therapy because it is expensive because it is imported from abroad ”.
Also known as the study patients PET are underway from their cancer and have the procedure because needless saber that advanced is the enfermedad. The doctor, by his side, receives specific information about the molecular and cellular function, which has the possibility to design the best treatment and the most adequate for the characteristics and needs of each patient. This is what is known as personalized medicine.
The potential of the molecular image that generates it PET It is also very useful to realize the treatment treatment applied to the patient, to see how the disease develops and to verify whether the medication works or has a good return. Many of the specialists in radiopharmaceuticals and technology are very knowledgeable PET as the most innovative diagnostic option and treatment of different diseases in the medicine of the future.
In particular radiopharmaceuticals and technology PET opens a new era in pharmaceutical and biological research in multiple campuses, because it is the only method that allows to obtain quantitatively objectionable data on variable physiological or pathological variables related to pregnancy, evolution and prognosis
The main clinical applications of radiopharmaceuticals and the PET oncology, cardiology and neurosiquiatry are conducted. In this ultimate camp of technology PET and radiopharmaceuticals are planted with the capacity to diagnose cerebral degenerative diseases in early stages and are capable of visualization in vivo the cerebral activity of patients and healthy people.
Please note the clinical investigation that is being carried out with the radiopharmaceuticals PET in high prevalence, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, because it is promising to increase our quality and life expectancy.
Image Molecular PET in Mexico
The Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM is a pioneer in this diagnostic technique. The doctor Nora Kerik and the doctor René Drucker pusieron in operation the first unit PET and cyclotron in Mexico. The first studio PET was realized on January 9, 2002.
For the past 20 years, it has been known to have cyclones operating in the country (four in CDMX, one in Monterrey, one in Guadalajara, one in Leon and another in Cancun) and there are 50 teams PET / CT distributed in the country (21 in CDMX and 29 in the states). Without embargo, the distribution of radiopharmaceuticals is centralized and used to protect the south and north of the country.
Respect for the cyclotrons in surgery in Mexico, both in public institutions, in the Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM and at the National Institute of Cancerology, and the demas in private institutions.
Indicators of the World Health Organization signal that they need to have a team PET / CT for every two million residents; In that way, a country with 120 million inhabitants like Mexico tends to have 240 teams, which has a deficit of 190.