Transforming Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment With Lutetium Oxodotreotide

Lutetium oxodotreotide (¹⁷⁷Lu dotatate, Lutathera), a radioactive treatment for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), has shown limited effectiveness in shrinking tumors and controlling peritoneal disease. This study aims to improve its efficacy by combining it with triapine, a drug that prevents tumor cells from repairing DNA damage caused by radiation.

Researchers believe that combining these two treatments will enhance the ability of lutetium oxodotreotide to kill tumor cells. The study will compare patients receiving lutetium oxodotreotide alone to those receiving lutetium oxodotreotide with triapine. The primary goal is to determine if the combination leads to a higher response rate, meaning more patients will experience tumor shrinkage. Secondary goals include assessing how long patients live without disease progression and exploring potential biomarkers to predict treatment response.

This clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this new treatment approach for patients with NETs.

Here, Aman Chauhan, MD, leader of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Program and co-director of the Theragnostic Program at the University of Miami Health System, discusses the mechanism and benefits of the agent.

Transcription:

0:05 | So one of the very effective treatments for our cancer is called Lutathera and has been a big game changer for neuroendocrine cancer patients. It's a radiopharmaceutical drug which latches onto somatostatin receptors on the neuroendocrine tumor and effectively controls the disease for a prolonged period of time. What we are trying to do is trying to add radiation sensitizers. These are medicines which will make this Lutathera drug even more effective than it is currently

0:36 | Well, Lutathera, one of the biggest attraction towards drugs like Lutathera is its safety profile and also the ease of administration. So for patients who often think of cancer treatment with weekly infusions indefinitely, this is a refreshing break. We have treated hundreds of patients with Lutathera since its FDA approval, and we have found from our real-world experience that it is very safe.