Phase II trial demonstrates the efficacy and safety of individualized, dosimetry-based (177)Lu-DOTATATE treatment of NET patients

PURPOSE: Radionuclide therapy with (177)Lu-DOTATATE is well established for patients with advanced somatostatin receptor–positive neuroendocrine tumors with a standard schedule of 7.4 GBq at four occasions. However, this approach does not consider individual variability affecting the tumor radiation dose or dose to organs at risk. Therefore, it is important to assess more personalized strategies. The aim of this phase II trial was to evaluate individualized (177)Lu-DOTATATE for which the number of cycles varied based on renal dosimetry. METHODS: Patients were eligible if they had a progressive, somatostatin receptor–positive neuroendocrine tumor with a Ki 67 labeling index < 20%. They received cycles of 7.4 GBq of (177)Lu-DOTATATE at 10 ± 2-week intervals until a predefined radiation dose to the kidneys was reached. The primary endpoint was objective tumor response (RECIST v 1.1). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity (CTCAE v. 4.0). RESULTS: Ninety-six patients who had received a median of 5 cycles (range 1–9) were evaluable for efficacy. The objective tumor response was 16% partial response, 66% stable disease, and 19% progressive disease. The median PFS and OS were 29 months and 47 months, respectively, and were significantly associated with kidney dose, performance status, and Ki 67 levels but not with tumor origin. The overall toxicity was mild, and the most common events were grade 1–2 anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. Grade 3–4 toxicity occurred in < 10% of patients and was mostly hematological, with no grade 3–4 renal toxicity. CONCLUSION: Individualized treatment with (177)Lu-DOTATATE based on renal dosimetry is clearly feasible with low toxicity and promising efficacy, showing the potential to further improve outcome beyond the standard approach, and should be further assessed in randomized trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT 2011–000,240-16. NCT01456078. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01456078