Lutetium, the heaviest and hardest of the rare earth elements, holds a unique position as the final lanthanide to be discovered in 1907. This silvery-white metal, named after the ancient Roman name for Paris, represents the culmination of over a century of scientific efforts to isolate and understand the rare earth elements. Despite its relative obscurity compared to more common elements, lutetium has evolved from a scientific curiosity to a critical component in modern technology, particularly in medical applications and advanced materials. Its journey from the laboratories of early 20th century chemists to its current role in cancer treatment and high-tech devices illustrates the often unpredictable path from pure scientific discovery to practical application.

For more information, check out the light rare earth elements (LREEs) as a group, the heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) as a group, and all rare earth elements (REEs). Be sure to check out all other critical raw materials (CRMs), as well. The complete history of all 17 rare earth elements can be found here.

Read about the use of rare earths in quantum computing here.

A History Of Lutetium

The discovery of lutetium marked the end of a long quest to separate and identify all the rare earth elements, a challenge that had occupied chemists for over a century. This elusive element emerged from the complex mixture of rare earth minerals through the persistent efforts of three scientists working independently in 1907, sparking a priority dispute that would take years to resolve. From its initial isolation as a laboratory curiosity to its modern applications in nuclear medicine and advanced materials, lutetium’s history reflects the evolution of chemical separation techniques and the growing importance of rare earth elements in contemporary technology.

Chronology

• 1907: Georges Urbain at the Sorbonne in Paris separated lutetium from ytterbia and named it lutecium after Lutetia, the ancient name for Paris; Carl Auer von Welsbach independently discovered lutetium and named it cassiopeium after the constellation Cassiopeia; Charles James at the University of New Hampshire independently discovered lutetium and extracted larger quantities than the other discoverers [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
• 1909: The International Commission on Atomic Weights granted priority to Urbain and adopted lutetium as the official name [1, 8]
• 1935: Lutetium-176 isotope discovered [9]
• 1949: The spelling of the element was officially changed from lutecium to lutetium [1, 10]
• 1953: Pure lutetium metal was first produced [11, 12, 13]
• 1960: Hydrothermal growth method for lutetium aluminum garnet demonstrated [14]
• 1980: Lutetium-hafnium dating method development using mass spectrometry for geological applications [15]
• 1990: Cerium-doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate introduced as a scintillator material [16]
• 2000: Lutetium aluminum garnet gemstones first created as sustainable alternatives to natural gemstones [17]
• 2010: Development of lutetium-177 therapeutic protocols for medical applications [18]
• 2011: Research on lutetium-177 EDTMP for bone pain palliation published [19]
• 2012: Studies on optimized lutetium-177 production methods published [20]
• 2013: Clinical trials of lutetium-177 PSMA therapy initiated [21]
• 2014: Global lutetium oxide price forecast studies published showing market trends [22]
• 2015: Research on lutetium-177 radiopharmaceutical development expanded [23]
• 2016: Studies on lutetium compounds for targeted radionuclide therapy published [24]
• 2017: German multicenter study published investigating lutetium-177 PSMA radioligand therapy in advanced prostate cancer patients [25]
• 2018: FDA approved lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (LUTATHERA) for treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors [26]
• 2019: Large-scale lutetium-177m production research for radionuclide generators published [27]
• 2020: Lutetium-177 research and clinical trials continued despite global challenges [28]
• 2021: VISION trial results published in The New England Journal of Medicine demonstrating efficacy of lutetium-177 PSMA for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer [29]
• 2022: FDA approved Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) for treatment of PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer on March 23; FDA approved Locametz (gallium Ga 68 gozetotide) for patient selection for lutetium-177 PSMA therapy on March 23 [30, 31, 32]
• 2023: FDA granted fast track designation to lutetium-177 PNT2002 for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer [33]
• 2024: FDA approved lutetium Lu 177 dotatate for pediatric patients 12 years and older with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors [34]
• 2025: Global lutetium oxide industry research and market forecast reports published projecting growth through 2029 [35]

Final Thoughts

From its contentious discovery in 1907 to its emergence as a cornerstone of targeted cancer therapy, lutetium exemplifies how fundamental scientific research can lead to transformative medical breakthroughs. The element that three scientists independently isolated from ytterbium impurities has become essential in treating previously untreatable cancers, offering hope to patients with limited options. As research continues into new applications of lutetium compounds in quantum computing, advanced lasers, and novel therapeutic approaches, this once-obscure lanthanide demonstrates that even the rarest elements can have profound impacts on human health and technology. The story of lutetium reminds us that today’s scientific curiosities may become tomorrow’s life-saving treatments.

Thanks for reading!

References

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[2] Lutetium – The Chemical Elements – https://thechemicalelements.com/lutetium/

[3] Lutetium – MMTA – https://mmta.co.uk/metals/lu/

[4] Lutetium Element | Uses, Facts, Physical & Chemical Characteristics – https://periodic-table.com/lutetium/

[5] Facts About Lutetium | Live Science – https://www.livescience.com/38425-lutetium.html

[6] Lutetium – Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table – https://periodic-table.rsc.org/element/71/lutetium

[7] Lutetium Facts, Symbol, Discovery, Properties, Uses – https://www.chemistrylearner.com/lutetium.html

[8] Lutetium | Rare Earth Element, Atomic Number 71 | Britannica – https://www.britannica.com/science/lutetium

[9] Lutetium-176 – isotopic data and properties – https://www.chemlin.org/isotope/lutetium-176

[10] WebElements Periodic Table » Lutetium » historical information – https://www.webelements.com/lutetium/history.html

[11] Lutetium (Lu) – Discovery, Occurrence, Production, Properties and Applications of Lutetium – https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7921

[12] Lutetium (Lu) | EBSCO Research Starters – https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/earth-and-atmospheric-sciences/lutetium-lu

[13] Lutetium – https://samplecontents.library.ph/wikipedia/wp/l/Lutetium.htm

[14] Lutetium aluminium garnet – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutetium_aluminium_garnet

[15] Lutetium–hafnium dating – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutetium-hafnium_dating

[16] Lutetium Aluminum Garnet – LuAG – Lu3Al5O12 | Scientific Materials | Laser Materials – https://scientificmaterials.com/products/luag_Lu3Al5O12_lutetium_aluminum.php

[17] Lutetium Aluminum Garnet (LuAG) – A Revolutionary Synthetic Gemstone – sheragems – https://sheragems.com/lutetium-aluminum-garnet-luag-a-revolutionary-synthetic-gemstone/

[18] Lutetium-177: Production and Radiopharmaceuticals – Nuclear Medicine Seminars – https://nukleertipseminerleri.org/articles/doi/nts.galenos.2023.0006

[19] Theranostic Applications of Lutetium-177 in Radionuclide Therapy – PubMed – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25771364/

[20] Production of 177Lu for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy: Available Options – PMC – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4463871/

[21] Developments in 177Lu-based radiopharmaceutical therapy and dosimetry – PMC – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10424930/

[22] Lutetium oxide price globally 2010-2025 | Statista – https://www.statista.com/statistics/450175/global-reo-lutetium-oxide-price-forecast/

[23] Production of 177Lu for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy: Available Options | Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13139-014-0315-z

[24] Frontiers | Developments in 177Lu-based radiopharmaceutical therapy and dosimetry – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2023.1218670/full

[25] Lutetium-177–PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer | New England Journal of Medicine – https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107322

[26] FDA approves lutetium Lu 177 dotatate for treatment of GEP-NETS | FDA – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-lutetium-lu-177-dotatate-treatment-gep-nets

[27] Large-scale production of lutetium-177m for the 177mLu/177Lu radionuclide generator – ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0969804319304270

[28] Analysis of lutetium-177 production at the WWR-K research reactor – ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0969804320307004

[29] Full article: Lutetium-177 PSMA for the treatment of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer: a systematic review – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14737140.2023.2213892

[30] FDA Approval Summary: Lutetium Lu 177 Vipivotide Tetraxetan for Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer | Clinical Cancer Research | American Association for Cancer Research – https://aacrjournals.org/clincancerres/article/29/9/1651/725864/FDA-Approval-Summary-Lutetium-Lu-177-Vipivotide

[31] FDA Approval Summary: Lutetium Lu 177 Vipivotide Tetraxetan for Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer – PubMed – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36469000/

[32] FDA D.I.S.C.O.: Burst Edition: FDA approval of Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) for the treatment of adult patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have been treated with androgen receptor pathway inhibition and taxane-based chemotherapy | FDA – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-disco-burst-edition-fda-approval-pluvicto-lutetium-lu-177-vipivotide-tetraxetan-treatment-adult

[33] FDA Fast Tracks 177Lu-PNT2002 for the Treatment of mCRPC – https://www.targetedonc.com/view/fda-fast-tracks-177lu-pnt2002-for-the-treatment-of-mcrpc

[34] FDA approves lutetium Lu 177 dotatate for pediatric patients 12 years and older with GEP-NETS | FDA – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-lutetium-lu-177-dotatate-pediatric-patients-12-years-and-older-gep-nets

[35] Lutetium Oxide (CAS 12032-20-1) Industry Research 2025: Global and Regional Market Trends 2019-2024 and Forecast to 2029 – https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/24/3030902/28124/en/Lutetium-Oxide-CAS-12032-20-1-Industry-Research-2025-Global-and-Regional-Market-Trends-2019-2024-and-Forecast-to-2029.html