Pylarify
Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) is a radioactive tracer that's used in positron emission tomography (PET) scans for males with certain types of prostate cancer. It helps your provider to determine whether cancer cells have spread from the prostate to other organs, or have come back after a period of time. Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) is given intravenously (IV) by a healthcare provider before your imaging study.
What is Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18)?
What is Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) used for?
PET scans to find cancer cells in:
- Men with treatable prostate cancer that might have spread to other organs
- Men with a history of prostate cancer that has come back based on high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Drug facts
Common questions about Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18)
Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) is a radioactive tracer used during PET scans to help your provider see where the prostate cancer cells are in your body. It's used for males with prostate cancer that has either spread to other organs or has come back after a period of time (recurrence). Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) contains a tracer called fluorine-18. It works by attaching to a protein called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). This protein is found on the surface of most prostate cancer cells. By attaching to PSMA, Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) tags these cancer cells. Your provider is then able to see where the cancer cells are.
Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) is typically injected into the veins by a healthcare provider on your imaging day. It's given 60 minutes before the PET scan. Make sure to stay hydrated and urinate frequently before, during, and after receiving Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18). Doing so can help to lower the risk of radiation exposure.
Most people experience few to no side effects while using Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) as directed. Common side effects include headache (2%), unusual taste in the mouth (2%), and feeling tired (1%). As with any medication, there's a chance that you might experience an allergic reaction with Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18). Let your provider know about your history of allergies before getting a PET scan. Tell your provider right away if you experience wheezing, dizziness, rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the tongue or throat.
Similar to many other diagnostic agents, Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) is radioactive. In general, the more you're exposed to something that's radioactive, the higher your risk for cancer. But please note that your healthcare provider will only use a very small amount of Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) for imaging, so it's considered very safe. Make sure to drink a lot of water and urinate often before, during, and for a few hours after you've received Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18). This can help to wash any leftover radioactive tracer out of your body. If you're concerned about the safety of Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) or other diagnostic agents, talk with your provider.
Before your imaging, let your provider know what medications you're taking, including over-the-counter products and supplements. Some medications used for prostate cancer, such as Lupron Depot (leuprolide) or Firmagon (degarelix), might change how much Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18) gets absorbed by the prostate cancer cells. Talk with your provider if you've any questions about interactions with this medication.
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