Pluvicto is a targeted radioactive treatment used to treat prostate cancer that has spread and keeps growing even when testosterone is very low. It is used when cancer cells have a protein called prostate-specific membrane antigen, or PSMA and after treatment with a hormone-blocking medicine such as Xtandi, Nubeqa, Erleada, or Zytiga.¹˒²
Pluvicto may be given before chemotherapy when it is safe to delay chemotherapy or after chemotherapy has been used. A PSMA PET scan is needed first to make sure the treatment can find and target the cancer cells.¹ This medication must be administered by trained healthcare professionals through your vein and special precautions during and after treatment are necessary.1,2
Pluvicto may be prescribed for adults whose prostate cancer:
Your healthcare team will also consider blood work results that measure blood-cell counts and kidney function, previous treatment, overall health, and the ability to follow radiation-safety instructions before deciding whether Pluvicto is appropriate.
Pluvicto is a targeted radioactive treatment. It attaches to PSMA, prostate-specific membrane antigen, a protein found on many prostate cancer cells. Once Pluvicto has attached, it releases radiation close to the cancer cell. The radiation damages the cell’s DNA, making it harder for the cancer cell to grow and survive. It limits, but does not fully stop radiation contact with nearby healthy cells and tissue.¹˒²
A PSMA PET scan is completed first to make sure Pluvicto can target the cancer cells. Pluvicto is then given as a fluid infusion through a small tube placed in a vein by trained healthcare professionals in a monitored medical setting.¹˒²
Treatment is usually given once every six weeks for up to six treatments, depending on how the cancer responds and how well you tolerate it. Blood work to measure infection fighting cells and kidney function are checked before and during treatment. Men who take Pluvicto are also instructed to drink fluids and urinate often to help remove radiation from the body and reduce exposure to the bladder.¹
The VISION study included 831 men with advanced prostate cancer who had already received hormone-blocking treatment and chemotherapy. Men who received Pluvicto in addition to their treatment lived about 15.3 months, compared with 11.3 months for men who did not receive Pluvicto.³ While other health and social factors may affect results, researchers reported this information as a positive result for receiving Pluvicto treatment.³
The PSMAfore study included 468 men with advanced prostate cancer who had not received chemotherapy. Half received Pluvicto, while the other half switched to Zytiga or Xtandi. Researchers reported a delay in cancer growth and spread by about 4 months between the two groups as seen on scans (9 months for the Pluvicto group, compared with a little over 5 months for the Zytiga or Xtandi group).
Only 12 participants, or about 3%, were Black, so the study provides limited information about Black men.⁴˒⁵
A 2026 Emory study reported a review of medical records for 163 patients with advanced prostate cancer. All patients had received Pluvicto, 66 Black patients and 97 non-Black patients. Similar survival rates were reported (18 months for Black patients and 14 months for non Black patients).6 Also, Black patients were almost 2.5 times more likely than non-Black patients to have their PSA level drop by at least half. PSA, or prostate-specific antigen (PSA), is a protein made by prostate cells that is measured to help monitor prostate cancer treatment response.⁶
Larger studies with more Black men are needed to better understand how Pluvicto affects treatment response and side effects in Black men.⁶
Possible side effects include:
Contact your healthcare team immediately for:
Radiation Safety
A small amount of radiation remains in the body after each treatment. Follow the radiation-safety instructions given by the treatment center to protect family members and others.
After each treatment, people are generally advised to:
Bring a complete list of prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements.
Ask how often blood and kidney tests will be needed, which symptoms require urgent care, and how treatment may affect fertility. Men with partners who could become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 14 weeks after the last treatment.¹
Before receiving Pluvicto, tell your doctor if you have:
Pluvicto requires access to a PSMA PET scan, a trained nuclear-medicine team, a treatment center that can safely handle radioactive medicines, and regular blood and kidney testing. Insurance approval, transportation, travel distance, and access to specialists may affect whether treatment can begin on time.
Black men should ask about social and health factors that affect prostate cancer treatment results, like whether PSMA testing is appropriate, whether Pluvicto is available nearby, what insurance will cover, and whether help is available for travel or treatment costs.
A small number of Black men participated in the main Pluvicto clinical trials. This makes it harder to know how well Pluvicto works and which side effects are most common in Black men. Newer study results show encouraging treatment results, but low clinical trial participation remains a serious healthcare gap with prostate cancer treatment.⁵˒⁶ Discussing side effects and other treatment options with the healthcare team can support safer care and clear information.
All men should discuss their health history, current medicines, access to blood testing, insurance coverage, transportation, and ability to attend follow-up visits throughout their prostate cancer treatment. Your plan of care should include cancer medicine, along with personal health and social factors that may affect your overall condition and treatment results.
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking any drug or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
Enter your name and email to receive the download link.
