Aga Khan University Hospital section head, nuclear radiology, Dr Samuel Nguku and chair, department of radiology, Dr Khalid Makhdomi, analyse a scan image for one of the patients who received the Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy.Two hospitals in Kenya have now made history in being the first ones to offer Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy, a treatment for patients with aggressive form of prostate cancer.
The first one is Ruai-based RFH Healthcare, which began the treatment in early May this year.
On Thursday this week, the Aga Khan University Hospital sent a statement announcing it had also conducted the treatment.
This therapy uses a radioactive substance, Lutetium-177, to target and kill cancer cells. Unlike regular treatments like chemotherapy, which can affect the whole body, Lutetium therapy is more precise. It is administered through a vein (like a drip). It travels through the blood directly to the cancer cells and damages them from the inside, causing fewer side effects.
“The therapy precisely targets prostate cancer cells using a radioactive compound, delivering a powerful dose of radiation directly to tumors while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissues,” Dr Samuel Nguku, the head of nuclear medicine section at the hospital, said in a statement.
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among men in Kenya and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men worldwide
“The introduction of Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy marks a major leap forward in cancer care for the region and reflects our unwavering commitment to transforming outcomes for patients by ensuring access to world-class, evidence-based treatment,” said Prof Mansoor Saleh, Chair of the Haemato-Oncology Department at the hospital.
“As a hospital we are committed to bringing the most advanced treatments to Kenya so that we can significantly improve patient outcomes while reducing the need for patients to seek care abroad,” said AKUH, N CEO, Rashid Khalani.
In May, RFH Hospital said it was committed to ensure that patients across Africa can access world-class treatment without having to leave the continent,.
Said Dr Maxwel Okoth, Managing Director of RFH Healthcare: “With Lutetium therapy now available locally, we are not only saving lives, but also rewriting the future of cancer care in Africa.”
RFH has some of the most advanced technology in the region, including machines like the PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners at its Cancer Treatment Centre within the flagship hospital in Ruai, near Nairobi.
It has 11 branches and provides specialised services across Nairobi, Kiambu, and Machakos counties. The PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners were installed late last year.
Andre Lourens, a Molecular Imaging Application specialist from GE Healthcare Africa, who oversaw the installation, said: “The PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners are not only pivotal in cancer diagnosis and treatment but also play crucial roles in cardiac and brain imaging.Each machine can efficiently serve 10-15 patients daily, ensuring more patients receive timely and accurate diagnostics.” Maxwell Songa, Nuclear Medical Physicist at RFH, emphasised the significant impact the machines would have.
“Patients who previously had to travel abroad for PET-CT or SPECT-CT scans can now access these services locally. The acquisition of this advanced technology will reduce waiting times to just one week, allowing us to perform diagnosis, staging, restaging, and monitoring with unparalleled precision,” Songa said.
