177Lu dotatate (Lutathera) is a radiolabeled somatostatin analog peptide approved by the FDA for the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) in adults. Specifically, 177Lu dotatate is indicated for:
- Treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive GEP-NETs, including foregut, midgut, and hindgut neuroendocrine tumors
- Treatment of patients with inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic GEP-NETs
Key requirements for treatment with 177Lu dotatate include:
- Positive somatostatin receptor status in tumor, as determined by gallium Ga 68 dotatate PET/CT scan
- Progressive disease within the previous 6 months, even after treatment with other therapies
Some additional details about the use of this therapy:
- It is given as an intravenous injection, typically every 8 weeks for a total of 4 doses
- Efficacy was demonstrated in a phase 3 NETTER-1 trial comparing 177Lu dotatate to high-dose octreotide LAR
- In the trial, progression-free survival was significantly longer with 177Lu dotatate
Some key points about the
safety of this targeted radionuclide therapy:
- Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
- Myelosuppression, with decreased blood cell counts, is an expected on-target effect
- Kidney function and blood cell counts should be monitored during treatment
- Long-term follow-up will determine if there is risk for secondary malignancies
Selecting the best candidates for this therapy requires assessment by a multidisciplinary care team, including
medical oncology, surgery, nuclear medicine, pathology, and radiology.
If you have been diagnosed with a
GEP-NET and want to understand all current and emerging treatment options that may be appropriate for your individual cancer situation,
consider scheduling a consultation with the experts at New Beginnings HRT Clinic.
At
New Beginnings HRT Clinic, we specialize in innovative
hormone therapies and nuclear medicine treatments for all types of neuroendocrine tumors and cancers. Our comprehensive GEP/NET program provides:
- Precision pathology review of your biopsy by top NET pathologists who will confirm tumor details, grade, Ki67% proliferation rate, and presence/lack of somatostatin receptors
- Personalized recommendations on surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, radionuclide peptide receptor therapy, clinical trial options, and theranostic treatments tailored to YOUR specific tumor characteristics and medical situation
- Access to the latest FDA-approved and investigational NET therapies
- Collaboration with nationally-ranked NET specialty centers to deliver coordinated care
