Single-centre experience with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs): results using a theranostic molecular imaging-guided approach

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology Vol. 149; no. 10; pp. 7717 - 7728
• Main Authors: Gordon, S., Chan, D. L. H., Bernard, E. J., Eslick, M. E., Willowson, K. P., Roach, P. J., Engel, A. F., Maher, R., Clarke, S. J., Agarwal, V., Yasmin, L., De Silva, M., Mascall, S., Conner, A., Nevell, D., Pavlakis, N., Bailey, D. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer Research; Female; Hematology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Molecular Imaging; Myelodysplastic syndrome; Myelodysplastic syndromes; nephrotoxicity; Neuroendocrine tumors; Neuroendocrine Tumors - pathology; Octreotide - therapeutic use; Oncology; pancreas; Patients; peptide receptors; Peptides; Precision Medicine; Radiation therapy; Radioisotopes; Receptors, Peptide; risk; Small intestine; Survival; therapeutics; Toxicity; NETs; Multidisciplinary Team (MDT); Neuroendocrine; PET; Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT)
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04706-1

Aim To summarise our centre’s experience managing patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) in the first 5 years after the introduction of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTA-octreotate (LUTATE). The report emphasises aspects of the patient management related to functional imaging and use of radionuclide therapy. Methods We describe the criteria for treatment with LUTATE at our centre, the methodology for patient selection, and the results of an audit of clinical measures, imaging results and patient-reported outcomes. Subjects are treated initially with four cycles of ~ 8 GBq of LUTATE administered as an outpatient every 8 weeks. Results In the first 5 years offering LUTATE, we treated 143 individuals with a variety of NETs of which approx. 70% were gastroentero-pancreatic in origin (small bowel: 42%, pancreas: 28%). Males and females were equally represented. Mean age at first treatment with LUTATE was 61 ± 13 years with range 28–87 years. The radiation dose to the organs considered most at risk, the kidneys, averaged 10.6 ± 4.0 Gy in total. Median overall survival (OS) from first receiving LUTATE was 72.5 months with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 32.3 months. No evidence of renal toxicity was seen. The major long-term complication seen was myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with a 5% incidence. Conclusions LUTATE treatment for NETs is a safe and effective treatment. Our approach relies heavily on functional and morphological imaging informing the multidisciplinary team of NET specialists to guide appropriate therapy, which we suggest has contributed to the favourable outcomes seen.