Cure of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma by Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy provides a therapeutic option for neuroendocrine carcinoma. However, therapy response is often limited. A 53-year-old woman with known liver and bone metastases from a pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma was treated using 3.24 GBq (87 mCi) Y-90 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-4,7,10-tricarboxy-methyl-1-yl-acety-D-Phe(1)-Try(3)-oetreotide (DOTATOC). Follow-up investigation 4 months later demonstrated complete normalization of Ga-68 DOTATOC imaging. Normal FDG imaging ruled out dedifferentiation of the tumor as an explanation for the negative receptor imaging. Meanwhile, the woman is alive without evidence of disease, 12 months after therapy, suggesting complete cure without any limitations to survival.