Lutathera

Lutathera Treatment- research study/trial

While early into SWN-NF2 trial the Information is based on experience of a patient with NF2 on the trial taking Lutathera.

Background

Lutathera is usually known to use for cancer patients. However in recent studies it's show that the receptor the drug targets also targets slow growing tumors that ones with NF2 have. "Lutatherais a radioactive drug that's administered intravenously to targe and kill tumor cells. It's a combination of a radionuclide, 177 Lu and a peptide that bind to somatostatin receptors, which are expressed in about 95% meningiomas. Using the concept of PRRT, Lutathera combines the radionuclide 177Lu with the somatostatin analogue DOTA-TATE, thus delivering ionizing radiation specifically to tumor cells expressing somatostatin receptors."⁽¹⁾

Lutathera is being studied to treat brain tumors. Including Meningiomas and other slow growing tumors in clinical trials at Mayo Clinic.

Possible Side Effects:

Lutathera has been studied for treatment of tumors in the abdomen, and these studies show that Lutathera is safe to use. Although every effort will be made to minimize the risk of side effects, it is possible you may experience some side effects. These side effects are known from ones treated with cancer.

Risks associated with Lutathera

Likely risks of Lutathera (events occurring greater than 20% of the time)

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal discomfort
• Mild fatigue
• Decrease in appetite
• Decrease in blood counts

Less likely risks of Lutathera (events occurring less than or equal to 20% of the time)

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Changes in taste
• Cough
• Anxiety
• Temporary hair loss
• Muscle or back pain
• Skin flushing

Rare but serious risks of Lutathera (events occurring less than 2-3% of the time)

• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Changes in blood pressure
• Heart attack or failure
• Kidney failure
• Myelodysplastic syndrome
• Acute Leukemia
• Seizures
• Increase in liver function tests and inflammation in the liver (acute hepatitis)

Patients started the Lutathera trail at the end of July 2024. Altogther will be under going 4 rounds, one every eight weeks. The drug is given thorugh and IV fluid. Prior to the drug being instituted, another drug is given to protect the kidney's , liver and general organs. Altogether the procedure takes about 4 hours.

Current Side effect

For the first 24hrs completely radio active, Very mild. During the procedure light headiness / cloudy feeling, and nauseous but for a short period of time. Day after mild tiredness, and headaches that are controled by Tylenol.

Outcome

An MRI is taken before each treatment as of right now no major change. I had minor growth in one tumor but nothing concerning, all other tumors were stable.

Sources

1. "Lutathera." (Date Reviewed: 2024) https://us.lutathera.com/about-lutathera/understanding-lutathera
2. Hennrich, Ute, and Klaus Kopka. "Lutathera®: the first FDA-and EMA-approved radiopharmaceutical for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy." Pharmaceuticals 12.3 (2019): 114. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/12/3/114
3. Urso, Luca, et al. "Lutathera® orphans: state of the art and future application of radioligand therapy with 177Lu-DOTATATE." Pharmaceutics 15.4 (2023): 1110. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/4/1110
4. Hromadik, Lora K., and Laura Sturges. "Caring for patients receiving 177Lu-DOTATATE, Lutathera®: a treatment of hope for patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors." Journal of Radiology Nursing 38.1 (2019): 28-32. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1546084318301731
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/4/1110