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Efficacy of using a standard activity of 131I-MIBG therapy in patients with disseminated neuroendocrine tumours

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the response to standard activity of 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in patients with disseminated neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), comparing overall survival of patients with symptomatic response, tumour size (as assessed by CT) and relevant plasma tumour markers.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who had undergone 131I-MIBG treatment between March 2001 and December 2006 was carried out. The administered activity of 131I-MIBG was 5.5 GBq (NETs) and 7 GBq (phaeochromocytoma). Three cycles of treatment were planned with an interval of 10–12 weeks. A pre-therapy scan with 123I-MIBG was performed to ascertain appropriate biodistribution.

Results

Thirty-eight patients were identified. Only two patients developed significant bone marrow suppression. Symptomatic response: data were available in 37 of 38 patients: 15 patients had improved symptoms, 19 had no improvement in symptoms and 3 were asymptomatic. In those with a symptomatic response, the median overall survival was 58 months vs no response of 20.0 months (p = 0.001). CT response: in those with stable disease, the median overall survival was 58 months compared with progressive disease of 16.0 months. The difference between these groups was significant (p = 0.006). Hormonal response: this was available in only 20 of 38 patients. The median overall survival was the same for patients that had increased hormone levels and patients that had stable/decreased hormone levels (48 months).

Conclusion

Standard activity 131I-MIBG is well tolerated. Symptomatic response to treatment is a significant predictor of overall survival. Whilst CT response also appears to predict survival, hormonal levels do not appear to correlate with survival.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK

    Shaunak Navalkissoor, Dona M. Alhashimi, Ann-Marie Quigley & John R. Buscombe

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

    Martyn E. Caplin

Authors
  1. Shaunak Navalkissoor
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  2. Dona M. Alhashimi
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  3. Ann-Marie Quigley
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  4. Martyn E. Caplin
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  5. John R. Buscombe
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Correspondence to Shaunak Navalkissoor.

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Navalkissoor, S., Alhashimi, D.M., Quigley, AM. et al. Efficacy of using a standard activity of 131I-MIBG therapy in patients with disseminated neuroendocrine tumours. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 37, 904–912 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1326-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1326-3

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