Researchers have unlocked a new way to harness astatine-211, a rare and powerful isotope that may revolutionize cancer treatment.
Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element on the planet and among the least explored in the periodic table, largely because its name, derived from the Greek word for “unstable,” accurately reflects its fleeting nature.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have now overcome this challenge through the use of cyclotron beams and advanced chemical techniques, creating a new process to produce, purify, and transport astatine-211 (At-211). This isotope, though highly radioactive and with a brief half-life of just 7.2 hours, holds remarkable potential for targeted cancer treatment.
Often called the “perfect” or “goldilocks” isotope, At-211 can deliver focused radiation that destroys cancer cells while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue. The Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute now produces this groundbreaking isotope using its K150 cyclotron, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Isotope Program.
Since 2023, Texas A&M has been one of only two institutions in the nation authorized to supply astatine for medical research and therapy through the National Isotope Development Center (NIDC) as part of its University Isotope Network.
“Targeted alpha therapy is a potentially transformative cancer therapeutic of great interest due to its ability to cause large amounts of damage near a tumor cell while keeping the healthy surrounding tissue and organs intact,” said Texas A&M Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor of Chemistry Dr. Sherry J. Yennello, who serves as director of the Cyclotron Institute and whose research group leads the institute’s At-211 program. “We are one of a handful of U.S. centers capable of routinely producing astatine in medically relevant quantities and delivering it to nearby facilities.”
