title: Treatment of advanced neuroendocrine tumours with the radiolabelled somatostatin analogue octreotide.
abstract: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) have a particular tendency to express functional receptors and/or uptake mechanisms. Radionuclides, such as (111)In-pentetreotide, a somatostatin analogue, which bind to somatostatin receptors, present an imaging modality that has been used for both the diagnosis and staging of NET. Scintigraphy with (111)In-pentetreotide can identify lesions beyond the diagnostic sensitivity of conventional imaging modalities. In addition, NET that demonstrate positive uptake to a diagnostic (111)In-pentetreotide can, in theory, be treated with these radionuclides, thus presenting a novel and evolving therapeutic modality in addition to other traditional therapeutic approaches. Although experience with (90)Y-DOTA-D-Phe(1)-Tyr(3)-octreotide therapy is still limited, preliminary studies have demonstrated useful activity in a variety of NET with limited side-effects. Large phase II clinical trials using (90)Y-DOTA-D-Phe(1)-Tyr(3)-octreotide therapy are still on-going and the results are expected to be presented soon. In order to improve the response rates obtained, newer somatostatin analogues are being developed and the combination with other beta-emitting particles in addition to (90)Y is being considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, George Genimatas General Hospital, Athens, Greece. gakaltsas@mds.qmw.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kaltsas
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stefanidou
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papadogias
authors.forename: Ashley B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Grossman