lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide at a glance
Medicine class
Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), a targeted radiopharmaceutical treatment.
Licensed use
Selected progressive, well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours in adults.
How it is given
By intravenous infusion in a designated nuclear medicine setting.
Kidney protection
An intravenous amino-acid solution is given alongside treatment to reduce kidney radiation exposure.
What is lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide used for?
The selected product is licensed for adults with tumours meeting all specified clinical and imaging criteria.
Treatment of unresectable or metastatic, progressive, well-differentiated grade 1 or grade 2, somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
How does lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide work?
Oxodotreotide binds strongly to somatostatin receptor subtype 2, which is overexpressed by many neuroendocrine tumour cells. The attached lutetium-177 emits short-range beta radiation that damages targeted cells while limiting exposure to surrounding tissue.
How to take lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide
This treatment is prepared and administered by authorised specialists in a designated clinical setting; it is not taken at home.
Tell the team about all prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary medicines, particularly somatostatin analogue injections and corticosteroids.
Unless the treatment centre advises otherwise, food, drink and most other medicines can usually be continued on the treatment day.
An anti-sickness medicine and a kidney-protective amino-acid infusion are given as part of administration.
Remain hydrated, urinate frequently and follow the centre's written radiation-safety instructions after treatment.
lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting, partly related to the kidney-protective amino-acid infusion
- Tiredness and reduced appetite
- Reduced platelets, lymphocytes or red blood cells
- Diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort or constipation
- Temporary worsening of tumour-related flushing, sweating, palpitations or pain
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including angioedema
- Clinically important bone-marrow suppression causing infection, bleeding or symptomatic anaemia
- Kidney or liver toxicity
- Neuroendocrine hormonal crisis or tumour lysis syndrome
- Delayed myelodysplastic syndrome or acute leukaemia
lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide in pregnancy
Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide is contraindicated during established or suspected pregnancy and when pregnancy has not been excluded because ionising radiation can harm a fetus. Pregnancy must be excluded before treatment, and effective contraception is required during treatment and for the product-specific period afterwards; discuss pregnancy plans promptly with the specialist team.
lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding must be avoided during treatment because exposure of the child to ionising radiation cannot be excluded. If treatment is necessary while breastfeeding, the child must be weaned; specialist advice is essential.
lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide interactions
Medicines affecting somatostatin receptors may reduce tumour targeting, so the specialist team must coordinate their use.
Somatostatin analogues, including octreotide and lanreotide
They compete for somatostatin receptors and can interfere with treatment uptake; timing must be managed by the specialist team.
Repeated high-dose glucocorticoids
They may reduce somatostatin receptor expression and should generally be avoided during treatment unless specialist assessment supports their use.
Common questions about lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide used to treat?
It is licensed for selected progressive, well-differentiated, somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours in adults that cannot be removed surgically or have spread.
Is lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide chemotherapy?
No. It is targeted radionuclide therapy: a receptor-binding molecule carries radioactive lutetium to susceptible tumour cells.
Why is a receptor scan needed before treatment?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.