ABSTRACT

Ga-68 DOTA-DPhe-Tyr3-octreotate (DOTATATE) positron emission tomography/computerised tomography (PET/CT) is the most widely used fuctional imaging method in diagnosis and follow up of neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Although therapies differ according to the differentiation grade and functional state of the tumor, mostly therapies targeting the somatostatin receptors overexpressed on the tumor cells are used. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is one of the most frequently used systemic therapies in NET’s and acting on this cascade. Radiological and functional methods in evaluation of therapy reponse in these tumors with slow metabolism, benign behaviour and slow growing rate are still a matter of debate. In this review, the place of Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT in evaluation of therapy response, especially PRRT in NET’s.

References

1Tirosh A, Kebebew E. The utility of 68Ga-DOTATATE positron-emission tomography/computed tomography in the diagnosis, management, follow-up and prognosis of neuroendocrine tumors. Future Oncol 2018;14:111-122.

2Giovannini E, Giovacchini G, Borsò E, et al. [68Ga]-Dota Peptide PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Main Clinical Applications. Curr. Radiopharm 2019;12:11-22.

3Carideo L, Prosperi D, Panzuto F, et al. Role of Combined [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-SST Analogues and [18F]FDG PET/CT in the Management of GEP-NENs: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2019;8:1032.

4Strosberg J, El-Haddad G, Wolin E, et al. Phase 3 Trial of 177Lu-Dotatate for Midgut Neuroendocrine Tumors. N Engl J Med 2017;376:125-135.

5Wahl RL, Jacene H, Kasamon Y, Lodge MA. From RECIST to PERCIST: Evolving Considerations for PET response criteria in solid tumors. J Nucl Med 2009;50(Suppl 1):122S-150S.

6Bozkurt MF, Virgolini I, Balogova S, et al. Guideline for PET/CT imaging of neuroendocrine neoplasms with 68Ga-DOTA-conjugated somatostatin receptor targeting peptides and 18F-DOPA. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2017;44:1588-1601.

7Sheikhbahaei S, Sadaghiani MS, Rowe SP, Solnes LB. Neuroendocrine Tumor Theranostics: An Update and Emerging Applications in Clinical Practice. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2021:1-12.

8Gabriel M, Oberauer A, Dobrozemsky G, et al. 68Ga-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide PET for assessing response to somatostatin-receptor-mediated radionuclide therapy. J Nucl Med 2009;50:1427-1434.

9Haug AR, Auernhammer CJ, Wängler B, et al. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT for the early prediction of response to somatostatin receptor-mediated radionuclide therapy in patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. J Nucl Med 2010;51:1349-1356.

10Huizing DMV, Aalbersberg EA, Versleijen MWJ, et al. Early response assessment and prediction of overall survival after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Cancer Imaging 2020;20:57.

11Werner RA, Lapa C, Ilhan H, et al. Survival prediction in patients undergoing radionuclide therapy based on intratumoral somatostatin-receptor heterogeneity. Oncotarget 2017;8:7039-7049.

12Werner RA, Ilhan H, Lehner S, et al. Pre-therapy Somatostatin Receptor-Based Heterogeneity Predicts Overall Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Undergoing Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy. Mol Imaging Biol 2019;21:582-590.

13Weber M, Kessler L, Schaarschmidt B, et al. Treatment-related changes in neuroendocrine tumors as assessed by textural features derived from 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/MRI with simultaneous acquisition of apparent diffusion coefficient. BMC Cancer 2020;20:326.

14Liberini V, Huellner MW, Grimaldi S, et al. The Challenge of Evaluating Response to Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: The Present and the Future. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020;10:1083.

Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT in the Evaluation of Therapy Response in Neuroendocrine Tumors

ABSTRACT

References