Dr. Chauhan on the Role of Lutathera in NETs
Aman Chauhan, MD, a medical oncologist at the University of Kentucky, discusses the role of Lutathera in neuroendocrine tumors.
Aman Chauhan, MD, a medical oncologist at the University of Kentucky, discusses the role of Lutathera (lutetium 177-dotatate) in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).
The introduction of Lutathera has been a significant advancement in the NETs treatment paradigm, says Chauhan.
The randomized phase 3 NETTER-1 trial, which served as the basis for the regulatory approval of Lutathera in January 2018, showed superior efficacy with Lutathera versus high-dose octreotide (Sandostatin).
Notably, Lutathera is a radiopharmaceutical where a lutetium-177 isotope is attached to dotatate, a somatostatin analog, says Chauhan. The agent attaches to somatostatin receptor 2, which is abundantly found in NETs.
Per the regulatory indication, patients can receive 1 dose of intravenous Lutathera every 2 months, Chauhan explains.
The therapy continuously emits radiation, causing single- and double-stranded DNA damage in tumor cells, which kills the cells over a period of time, Chauhan concludes.
