Dr. Simron Singh

Radioactive Drug vs Everolimus

for Neuroendocrine Cancer

This phase II trial compares the effect of retreatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) to the usual approach of treatment with everolimus in patients who have previously received 177Lu-DOTATATE for midgut neuroendocrine tumor (NET) that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) and that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). PRRT is a type of radiation therapy for which a radioactive chemical is linked to a peptide (small protein) that targets cancer cells. When this radioactive peptide is injected into the body, it binds to a specific receptor found on some cancer cells. The radioactive peptide builds up in these cells and helps kill the cancer cells without harming normal cells. In this trial 177Lu-DOTATATE is used for PRRT. 177Lu-DOTATATE PRRT may increase the length of time until worsening of the midgut NET compared to the usual approach. Everolimus is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It is also a type of angiogenesis inhibitor. Everolimus works by stopping cancer cells from reproducing and by decreasing blood supply to the cancer cells. Retreating with 177Lu-DOTATATE may work better than everolimus in shrinking or stabilizing tumor in patients with metastatic and unresectable NET who were previously treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE.