Nuclear Medicine Therapy

  Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are heterogeneous with varying behaviour. Treatment decisions are taken basis Histological studies plus imaging data and clinical studies. Surgery is a curative option for NET patients with localized well-differentiated tumours, for non-localized metastatic tumours, Surgery is not an option. PRRT  (Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy) is a curative option for non-localised, heterogeneous, metastatic neuroendocrine tumours. PRRT has proven to be the most promising treatment modality amongst various systemic treatments  such as Somatostatin Analogues, Chemotherapy, Molecular Targeted Treatments, Alpha Interferon etc. PRRT causes DNA damage to the tumour cells. In the 1990s PRRT was administered using the radiopeptide 111In-DTPA-octreotide (Octreoscan®), the responses were reasonable but the effects were not long-lived and there were long term adverse sequelae. Next PRRT agent to be developed was the more effective beta-emitting radionuclide Y90, su

  Nuclear Medicine, as a treatment protocol for Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) has been used in many countries across the globe for many a years. PRRT  or Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy is a type of Nuclear Medicine Therapy in which a cell-targeting protein or peptide is combined with a small amount of radioactive material that created a special type of radiopharmaceutical known as a Radiopeptide. This radiopeptide is injected into a Neuroendocrine Tumor patient’s bloodstream. Unlike healthy cells, the neuroendocrine tumor cells or NET cells have proteins on their cell surface. These proteins, also known as receptors, bind themselves to hormones, such as somatostatin. Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy or PRRT with lutetium 177 dotatate or Lu177 targets these receptors with radiopeptides and deliver a high dose of radiation to the tumor cells. How PRRT for NET works? – Method of Action 1.         A peptide i.e. a group of amino acids is created that can bind to the rece