Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with 177Lu-DOTATATE: A retrospective evaluation of the experience at the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Theageneio Cancer Hospital.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment response and toxicity profile of patients treated withpeptide receptor radionuclidetherapy (PRRT) using ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE at the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Theageneio Cancer Hospital.

Materials and methods: Forty-nine patients with advanced somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and related neoplasms underwent treatment with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE between January 2022 and January 2026. Demographic, clinical, imaging and therapeutic data were retrospectively analyzed. Response assessment was performed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Toxicity evaluation included hematologic, renal and hepatic adverse effects.

Results: Pancreatic and small intestine NETs represented the most common primarytumors. Liver, lymph node and bone metastases were the predominant metastaticsites. Disease control was achieved in 81.3% of patients, with partial response observed in 27.1% and stable disease in 54.2% of patients, and most individuals completed the planned four treatment cycles. Hematologic toxicity was recorded in a minority of eight cases, while severe renal or hepatic toxicity remained uncommon.

Conclusion: PRRT with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE appears to be an effective and generally well-tolerated therapeutic option in patients with advanced NETs, providing high disease control rates with acceptable toxicity.