Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate binds to somatostatin receptors with highest affinity for subtype 2 receptors (SSRT2). Upon binding to somatostatin receptor expressing cells, including malignant somatostatin receptor-positive tumors, the compound is internalized. The beta emission from Lu 177 induces cellular damage by formation of free radicals in somatostatin receptor-positive cells and in neighboring cells. LUTATHERA® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) is indicated for the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), including foregut, midgut, and hindgut neuroendocrine tumors in adults.

Iobenguane I-131 is a radioactive therapeutic agent. The drug contains radioactive isotope I-131, which decays by electron emission with a half-life of about 8 days. By the chemical structure, iobenguane is similar to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine and is subject to the same uptake and regulation pathways. After intravenous administration, iobenguane I-131 accumulates within pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma cells, and radiation from the radioactive decay causes cell death and tumor necrosis. Iobenguane I-131 was approved by the FDA for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with iobenguane scan positive, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma who require systemic anticancer therapy. Iobenguane I-131 is investigated in clinical trials as a treatment of neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma and other tumors of neuroendocrinal origin.

Iodide I-131 (as Sodium iodide I-131) is a radioisotopic drug used for the treatment and palliation of thyroid malignancy. Therapeutic solutions of Sodium Iodide-131 are indicated for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid carcinomas that take up iodine. Palliative effects may be observed in patients with advanced thyroid malignancy if the metastatic lesions take up iodine. It is also indicated for use in performance of the radioactive iodide (RAI) uptake test to evaluate thyroid function. Taken orally, sodium iodide I-131 is rapidly absorbed and distributed within the extracellular fluid of the body. The iodide is concentrated in the thyroid via the sodium/iodide symporter, and subsequently oxidized to iodine. The destruction of thyroidal tissue is achieved by the beta emission of sodium iodide I-131.

P-32 is a radioactive isotope of phosphorus with a half-life of 14.29 days. Radioactive decay of P-32 produces beta-particles (electrons) which are able to penetrate tissue at a range of 3-8 mm. Phosphate ion P-32 has many applications in medicine and biology. P32 sodium phosphate was approved by the FDA for the treatment of polycythemia vera, chronic myelocytic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. P32-phosphate may also be used in the palliative treatment of selected patients with multiple areas of skeletal metastases. As metabolic uptake of phosphorus is selectively increased in malignant tissues, P-32 was also used for cancer diagnostics.

YTTRIUM Y-90 (YTRACIS®, YTTRIGA®) is a radioactive form of the chemical element yttrium. It is used for radiolabelling other medicines. An example of its use is the treatment of some type of tumors, where the radiolabelled medicine carries the radioactivity to the site of a tumor to destroy the tumor cells.