Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy of Neuroendocrine Tumours

Publication date: Available online 8 October 2015 Source:Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Author(s): Tessa Brabander, Jaap J.M. Teunissen, Casper H.J. Van Eijck, Gaston J.H. Franssen, Richard A. Feelders, Wouter W. de Herder, Dik J. Kwekkeboom In the past decades the number of neuroendocrine tumours that are detected is increasing. A relative new and promising therapy for patients with metastasised or inoperable disease is peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). This therapy involves an infusion of somatostatin analogues linked to radionuclides like Yttrium-90 or Lutetium-177. Objective response rates are reported in 15-35%. Response rates may vary between type of tumour and radionuclide. Besides the objective response rate, overall survival and progression free survival increase significantly. Also, the quality of life improves as well. Serious side-affects are rare. PRRT is usually well tolerated, also in patients with extensive metastasised disease. Recent studies combined PRRT with other types of therapies. Unfortunately no randomized trials comparing these strategies are available. In the future more research is needed to evaluate the best therapy combinations or sequence of therapies.
Source: Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research