Professor Mariza Vorster, Head of Nuclear Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), has been honoured with the 2023 Maurits W Geerlings Next Generation Award for her remarkable research and contributions to Actinium-225 radiopharmaceuticals.
The accolade was presented to Professor Vorster in Munich, Germany, by the International Centres for Precision Oncology Foundation (ICPO), a non-profit organisation established in 2019 under German law, which serves as a platform for leading medical practitioners and life sciences entrepreneurs worldwide.
One of Professor Vorster’s significant achievements has been her pivotal role in introducing Ac225 Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) therapy, an innovative treatment for prostate cancer, to KwaZulu-Natal. This treatment is administered at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. Prostate cancer is a prevalent malignancy affecting men across the globe.
Ac225 PSMA therapy represents a form of radionuclide therapy designed to deliver alpha particles in close proximity to the cancer cell’s DNA. The radiation emitted by these alpha particles effectively damages the tumour DNA, leading to tumour shrinkage and preventing further growth or regeneration of cancer cells, with potential for complete eradication in certain cases.
One of the key strengths of this therapy is its ability to selectively target cancer cells that over-express the PSMA receptor, while sparing normal tissues from harm. Professor Vorster has emphasised the convenience and safety of this therapy, highlighting that it can be administered as an outpatient treatment within minutes. Patients have exhibited positive responses to the treatment, even when it is considered a last resort option, and the side effects have been minimal, primarily consisting of a dry mouth.
Before undergoing Ac225 PSMA therapy, patients undergo imaging with Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT scans, enabling the medical team to identify those most likely to benefit from this specific form of treatment. Subsequent monitoring of patient responses is an integral part of the therapeutic process.
Professor Vorster’s impressive qualifications include her attainment of the title of nuclear medicine physician in 2010 from the University of Pretoria.
In 2014, she obtained her doctoral degree from the same institution for her research on the use of 68Ga-citrate PET in indeterminate lung lesions. Notably, this made her the first female nuclear physician in South Africa to hold a PhD. In recognition of her contributions, she has received an NRF rating as a scientist and has authored and co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, which include several chapters in textbooks.
