Intra-arterial peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy for neuro-endocrine tumour liver metastases: an in-patient randomised controlled trial (LUTIA).

PURPOSE: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) using [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE has been shown to effectively prolong progression free survival in grade 1-2 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NET), but is less efficacious in patients with extensive liver metastases. The aim was to investigate whether tumour uptake in liver metastases can be enhanced by intra-arterial administration of [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE into the hepatic artery, in order to improve tumour response without increasing toxicity. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with grade 1-2 GEP-NET, and bi-lobar liver metastases were randomized to receive intra-arterial PRRT in the left or right liver lobe for four consecutive cycles. The contralateral liver lobe and extrahepatic disease were treated via a "second-pass" effect and the contralateral lobe was used as the control lobe. Up to three metastases (> 3 cm) per liver lobe were identified as target lesions at baseline on contrast-enhanced CT. The primary endpoint was the tumour-to-non-tumour (T/N) uptake ratio on the 24 h post-treatment [177Lu]Lu-SPECT/CT after the first cycle. This was calculated for each target lesion in both lobes using the mean uptake. T/N ratios in both lobes were compared using paired-samples t-test. FINDINGS: After the first cycle, a non-significant difference in T/N uptake ratio was observed: T/NIA = 17·4 vs. T/Ncontrol = 16·2 (p = 0·299). The mean increase in T/N was 17% (1·17; 95% CI [1·00; 1·37]). Of all patients, 67% (18/27) showed any increase in T/N ratio after the first cycle. CONCLUSION: Intra-arterial [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE is safe, but does not lead to a clinically significant increase in tumour uptake.

Challenges in Von Hippel-Lindau's disease: PRRT in patients on hemodialysis.

Summary: Von Hippel-Lindau's disease (VHL) is a hereditary tumor syndrome characterized by its prototype lesions, hemangioblastomas, and renal cell carcinomas. Treatment for renal cell carcinomas can ultimately result in long-term dialysis. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) can also occur in the course of the disease. Currently, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is the standard treatment for progressive neuroendocrine tumors. However, little is known about treatment with PRRT in patients on dialysis, an infrequent presentation in patients with VHL. We present a 72-year-old man with VHL on hemodialysis and a progressive pNET. He received four cycles of PRRT with a reduced dose. Only mild thrombopenia was seen during treatments. The patient died 9 months after the last PRRT because of acute bleeding in a hemangioblastoma. Hemodialysis is not a limiting factor for PRRT treatment and it should be considered as it seems a safe short-term treatment option for this specific group. Learning points: Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a complex disease in which former interventions can limit optimal treatment for following VHL-related tumors later in life. Metastasized pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors occur as part of VHL disease. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy seems a safe short-term treatment option in patients on hemodialysis.