Radionuclide Therapy for Neuroendocrine Tumors

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is a form of systemic radiotherapy that allows targeted delivery of radionuclides to tumor cells expressing high levels of somatostatin receptors. The two radiopeptides most commonly used for PRRT, ⁹⁰Y-DOTATOC and ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE, have been successfully employed for more than a decade for the treatment of advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Recently, the phase III, randomized NETTER-1 trial has compared ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE versus high-dose octreotide LAR in patients with progressive, metastatic midgut NETs, demonstrating exceptional tolerability and efficacy. This review summarizes recent developments in the field of radionuclide therapy for gastroenteropancreatic and lung NETs and considers possible strategies to further enhance its clinical efficacy.

Light It Up! The Use of DOTATATE in Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Radiolabeled somatostatin analogs are increasingly used in the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Diagnostic imaging with 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT has demonstrated the improved sensitivity in detecting primary and metastatic neuroendocrine lesions compared with conventional imaging and prior generation somatostatin receptor imaging. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with 177Lu-DOTATATE is now frequently included in the management of neuroendocrine neoplasms, with prospective randomized control studies demonstrating its beneficial impact on survival and quality of life. Nonetheless, peptide rector radionuclide therapy is still considered palliative rather than curative and may be accompanied by adverse effects.