Overview
The goal of this study is to learn if individualized dosimetry-based prescribing of Lutetium-177 DOTATATE (Lutathera, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) improves treatment outcomes for adults with unresectable neuroendocrine tumors. To investigate this, study participants will:
- Undergo Somatostatin Receptor (SSTR) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, such as a DOTATOC PET/CT scan
- Be randomized to receive standard treatment (as per FDA guidelines) or investigational treatment (customized dosing of Lutathera based upon dosimetry)
- Undergo blood tests for 4 to 8 weeks after each Lutathera treatment
- Complete patient reported outcome questionnaires
- Visit the clinic for follow-up about every 8 weeks.
Description
This is a randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating the impact of forward planning dosimetry for Lutetium-177 DOTATATE (Lutathera, Novartis Pharmaceuticals), a radiopharmaceutical approved to treat neuroendocrine tumors by the U.S. FDA.
If a patient consents to participate, and is deemed eligible to move forward, there is a 2 out of 3 chance to receive the investigational treatment (the Lutathera treatment customized to tumor uptake and kidney uptake). The standard treatment is 200 millicuries (mCi) of Lutathera per cycle, with potential adjustments for safety per the FDA-approved package insert.
Regardless of the assigned group (investigational treatment or standard treatment), the first treatment is 200 mCi. This is given with amino acids, which is required for this treatment.
Participants in the standard treatment continue to receive 200 mCi per treatment, with or without adjustment based on package insert instructions, for up to 4 treatments total.
Participants in the investigational treatment will receive a customized dose of Lutathera, up to 400 mCi per treatment for treatments 2 - 4, in the hopes that escalation will be safe and effective in many patients based on individualized dosimetry.
Participants randomized to the investigational treatment will receive specialized imaging (SPECT/CT) following administration of Lutathera. This will identify where the Lutathera went and how long it remains there (in the tumors, kidneys, or bone marrow). After the first dose of Lutathera, this imaging is done on the first day of treatment and then once a day for the next 3 to 4 days. Each scan lasts about an hour. Following treatments 2 and 3, this imaging is only done on the first day and then once at about 3 to 4 days after the treatment. There are also blood samples collected to measure the radioactivity in the blood.
All participants must be actively followed to assess for side effects of therapy as well as treatment outcomes. This means participants must return to the treatment site at 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after the last cycle of therapy. All participants must have a CT scan completed at 6 months after treatment as well.
Radiation side effects can take years to develop. For this reason, it is very important that participants remain in touch with the study investigator and team. Participants have life-long follow-up for this study.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria. A physical, with vital signs, concomitant medication review, and medical history must be completed within 60 calendar days to confirm appropriateness of Lutathera treatment as well as to foundation for listed criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
- Aged ≥ 18 years at time of consent.
- Pathologically confirmed (histology or cytology) malignant neoplasm that is determined to be a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (Ki-67 ≤ 20%) with the primary tumor location known or believed to be gastroenteropancreatic origin (GEP-NET)
- Disease measuring ≥ 1.5 cm in diameter on CT or MRI as measured per RECIST that shows uptake > liver background on sstr2 PET/CT with any FDA approved sstr2 imaging agent. SSTR2 PET/CT must have been obtained within 90 days prior to scheduled C1D1 of Lutathera.
- Recommended to receive LUTATHERA® therapy for unresectable and/or metastatic neuroendocrine disease.
- Adequate performance status (ECOG of 0 or 1; or Karnofsky performance status of ≥70).
- Agrees to contraception during therapy.
- Neutrophil count within normal limits within 28 days of treatment day 1.
- Platelet count within normal limits within 28 days of treatment day 1.
- Ability to take oral medication and be willing to adhere to the treatment regimen
- For individuals of reproductive potential: agreement to use effective birth control
- Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle Considerations throughout study duration: abstain from caffeine or xanthine-containing products as well as alcohol before the start of cycle dosing and through the cycle's final blood sample; minimize social interactions during low blood counts.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals who are pregnant or lactating (note: potential participants should not engage in 'pump & dump' strategy; lactation must be discontinued).
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection (requiring inpatient admission or a delay to start of therapy), fever, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
- Surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy ≤ 4 weeks of C1D1 (Toxicities from prior therapies should have resolved to ≤ CTCAE grade 1 or a new baseline established).
- Prior peptide-receptor radiotherapy (PRRT).
- Therapeutic investigational drug within 4 weeks of C1D1 (imaging agents are acceptable).
- A concurrent malignancy that, in the opinion of the investigator, would cause a safety risk by delaying therapy or confound/negatively impact study objectives (documentation of the rationale must be provided)
- Prior external beam radiation dose to the kidneys of >10 Gy (mean dose to functional renal volume).
- Prior external beam radiation (including brachytherapy) involving 25% of the bone marrow (excluding scatter doses of ≤ 5 Gy) as estimated by a radiation oncologist.
- History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to Octreoscan® or Netspot™.