Rhenium-188 and copper-67 radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of bladder cancer.

The favourable nuclear properties of copper-67 and rhenium-188 for therapeutic application are described, together with methods for the chemical synthesis of a number of derivatives. Survival from invasive bladder cancer has changed little over the past 20 years. The intravesicular administration of Cu-67 or Re-188 radiopharmaceuticals in the treatment of bladder cancer offers some promise for improvement in this situation.