Lutetium-177 DOTATATE (abbreviated as 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy) is a form of radionuclide therapy targeting somatostatin receptors. Currently this treatment is being used in patients with neuroendocrine cancers (also known as carcionoid), pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, meningioma and few other cancers.
A small quantity of DOTATATE (somatostatin receptor targeting agent) molecule is attached to radioactive Lutetium-177. The DOTATATE targeting molecule when injected intravenously targets the radiation of 177Lu to the cancer target sites. The delivered radiation then kills the cancer cells.
177Lu-DOTATATE therapy is relatively safe and very well tolerated. However, like all treatments it is not free of side effects and benefit of therapy needs to be measured against risk of side effects before giving this treatment. However, overall the side effect profile is quite encouraging.
177Lu-PSMA has the highest level of evidence (randomized phase III clinical trial) proving its effectiveness. This has led to ever increasing interest in and use of 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy.
177Lu-DOTATATE therapy is currently used in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine cancer (aka carcinoid cancer) and few other cancers such as pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma and meningioma.