Health · Pharma & Biotech · 7 hrs ago
Hybrid PRRT approach delivers more radiation to liver tumors in small study
Researchers tested a combined PRRT treatment in 10 people with progressive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors that had mainly spread to the liver.
These tumors can be diagnosed after they have spread, when surgery may no longer be an option.
Standard PRRT is usually given through a vein, but it may not deliver enough radiation to liver tumors.
The patients first received two treatments through liver arteries, then two through a vein, with the four treatments given every two months.
The artery-delivered treatment sent over three times more radiation to liver tumors than the intravenous route, and the procedure was feasible for all 10 patients.
Partial tumor responses rose from 67% to 87% between follow-ups three and six months after treatment ended.
The findings suggest this approach could improve tumor control, but the study was a small pilot and gives no details about what research or treatment will happen next.
A small prospective pilot study found that a hybrid PRRT approach delivered more than three times the radiation dose to liver metastases than intravenous treatment.
The approach began with two treatments administered through hepatic arteries, followed by two intravenous treatments.
The study included 10 patients with progressive, liver-dominant metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Researchers reported partial responses in 67 percent of patients at the first follow-up and 87 percent at the second.
The procedure was feasible in all patients, and radiation exposure remained within regulatory limits.
- Who
- 10 patients with progressive, liver-dominant metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors took part.
- What
- Researchers tested a hybrid peptide receptor radionuclide therapy approach, first administering treatment through hepatic arteries and then intravenously.
- When
- The study was published online in 2026. Patients received four treatment cycles every two months.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Researchers sought to assess whether the hybrid approach was feasible, safe and effective, and could increase radiation delivered to liver tumors.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Patients received four cycles of 177Lu-DOTATATE, with two initial intraarterial cycles followed by two intravenous cycles.
At the first follow-up, partial response rates were 67 percent.
At the second follow-up, partial response rates were 87 percent.
The research was published online in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
- Study size
- 10 patients
- Treatment
- Four cycles of 177Lu-DOTATATE
- Treatment sequence
- Two intraarterial cycles followed by two intravenous cycles
- Liver metastasis radiation dose
- More than three times higher with intraarterial administration than with intravenous administration
- Median liver lesion uptake
- Increased 86 percent with intraarterial administration
- Partial response rate
- 67 percent at first follow-up; 87 percent at second follow-up
What people are saying
The novelty of this research is not simply that liver-directed intraarterial PRRT increases hepatic uptake; rather, it evaluates a clinically integrated, personalized hybrid strategy that links delivery, dosimetry, safety, and response within the same prospective study
For patients, this could translate into better tumor control and a more effective, individualized treatment option.