FDA-Approved Novel Agent Appears Promising in GEP-NETs
Pamela L. Kunz, MD, discusses the most recent FDA approval of Lutathera (lutetium [Lu 177] dotatate) for the treatment of patients with gastroenteropancreatic NETs (GEP-NETs), including foregut, midgut, and hindgut tumors.
Pamela L. Kunz, MD, assistant professor, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses the most recentFDA approval of Lutathera(lutetium [Lu 177] dotatate) for the treatment of patients with gastroenteropancreatic NETs (GEP-NETs), including foregut, midgut, and hindgut tumors.
The agent was approved by the FDA in 2018 for the treatment of patients with somatostatin receptorpositive GEP-NETs. Lutetium 177 is a radiolabeled somatostatin analog, says Kunz. The agent is given to patients by intravenous infusion for 4 doses.
Lutetium 177 represents a new class of therapy across all oncology. Kunz says there is a target on NET cells called the somatostatin receptor, and this receptor is the target for peptides like octreotide. She describes this as a lock and key scenario, where the receptor is the lock while the peptide acts as a key, bringing lutetium 177 along with it.
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