Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a group of neoplasms arising from neuroendocrine cells. The worldwide incidence and prevalence of the NENs are estimated to be 6/100,000 and 35/100,000, respectively. Those numbers are increasing every decade, requiring higher and higher diagnosis and treatment costs. Radioligand therapy (RLT) using beta-emitting radioisotopes is an efficient and relatively safe method of treatment, typically used as a second-line treatment. RLT tolerability is higher than other available pharmacotherapies (chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors). Recent studies show an increase in overall survival among patients treated with RLT. The present study aimed to learn the epidemiology of NENs in Poland and assess the effectiveness of RLT in a high-reference center. A prospective analysis of 167 patients treated with RLT in one of Poland’s highest-reference NEN centers was performed. The analysis covered 66 months of observation (1 December 2017–30 May 2023), during which 479 RLT single administrations of radioisotope were given. The standard procedure was to give four courses of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE alone, or tandem therapy—[177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE and [90Y]Y-DOTA-TATE. Grading analysis showed that most patients had non-functioning G2 NEN with a mean Ki-67 of 6.05% (SD ± 6.41). The most common primary tumor location was the pancreas. Over two-thirds of patients did undergo surgery due to primary tumors or distant metastases. The majority of patients were using lanreotide as a chronically injected somatostatin analog. Median progression-free survival (PFS) on somatostatin analogs was 21.0 (IQR = 29.0) months. Directly after the last course of RLT, disease stabilization was noted in 69.46% of patients, partial regression was noted in 20.36% of patients, complete regression was noted in 0.60% of patients, and progression was noted in 9.58% of patients. In long-term follow-up, the median observation time among patients who underwent four treatment cycles (n = 108) was 29.8 (IQR = 23.9) months. Stabilization of the disease was observed in 55.56% of the patients and progression was observed in 26.85% of the patients, while 17.59% of patients died. Median PFS was 29.3 (IQR 23.9), and the median OS was 34.0 months (IQR 16.0). The mean age of NEN diagnosis is the sixth decade of life. It takes almost three years from NEN diagnosis to the start of RLT. In long-term observation, RLT leads to disease stabilization in over half of the patients with progressive disease. No differences in PFS or OS depend on the radioisotope used for RLT. In Poland, organized coordination of NEN treatment in high-reference centers ensures the continuity of patient care.
Introduction: Although renal stenting is the standard revascularization method for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) (FMD-RAS), stenting in fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) RAS is usually limited to periprocedural complications of angioplasty and primary arterial dissection. The main aim of the study was to retrospectively analyze the immediate and long-term results of renal stenting versus angioplasty in patients with FMD. Methods: Of 343 patients in the ARCADIA-POL registry, 58 patients underwent percutaneous treatment due to FMD-RAS (in 70 arteries). Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) was performed as an initial treatment in 61 arteries (PTRA-group), whereas primary stenting was undertaken in nine arteries (stent-group). Stent-related complications were defined as: in-stent restenosis > 50% (ISR); stent fracture; under-expansion; or migration. Results: In the PTRA-group, the initial restenosis rate was 50.8%. A second procedure was then performed in 22 arteries: re-PTRA (12 arteries) or stenting (10 arteries). The incidence of recurrent restenosis after re-PTRA was 41.7%. Complications occurred in seven of 10 (70%) arteries secondarily treated by stenting: two with under-expansion and five with ISR. In the stent-group, stent under-expansion occurred in one case (11.1%) and ISR in three of nine stents (33.3%). In combined analysis of stented arteries, either primarily or secondarily, stent-related complications occurred in 11/19 stenting procedures (57.9%): three due to under-expansion and eight due to ISRs. Finally, despite several revascularization attempts, four of 19 (21%) stented arteries were totally occluded and one was significantly stenosed at follow-up imaging. Conclusion: Our study indicates that renal stenting in FMD-RAS may carry a high risk of late complications, including stent occlusion. Further observational data from large-scale registries are required.
The rapid development of nuclear medicine offers vast opportunities for diagnosing neoplasms, particularly in endocrinology. The use of the [11C]C-methionine radiotracer is currently limited due to its physical properties and the complex production process. However, studies conducted so far have demonstrated its utility in PET imaging, helping to detect lesions that often remain elusive with other modalities. This systematic review focuses on [11C]C-methionine in diagnosing hyperparathyroidism and pituitary tumors, highlighting its high effectiveness, which can be crucial in diagnosis. Despite some disadvantages, it should be considered when available, especially when other modalities or radiotracers fail.
Background: Renal cell carcinoma is one of the most aggressive urogenital malignancies, with an increasing number of cases worldwide. The majority of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, as this form of growth is typically silent. An accurate evaluation of the extent of the disease is crucial for selecting the most appropriate treatment approach. Nuclear medicine imaging is increasingly being applied in oncological diagnostics, prompting ongoing research into renal cell carcinoma markers that could serve as a foundation for theranostic approaches in this disease. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligands has already demonstrated successful utility in diagnosis of other cancers, including prostate cancer and gliomas. Emerging evidence of high sensitivity and specificity in detecting renal cell carcinoma lesions provides a suitable foundation for its application in both the diagnosis and subsequent management of this malignancy. Methods: This systematic review synthesizes the current scientific evidence on the molecular imaging of renal cell carcinoma using PSMA ligands, emphasizing the potential future applications of this imaging marker in theranostic approaches. Results and Conclusions: Based on a systematic review of the literature, it appears that PET/CT with PSMA ligands has the potential to surpass traditional imaging techniques in diagnostic accuracy while also providing valuable prognostic information.
Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a rare group of tumors with a different clinical course, prognosis and location. Radioligand therapy (RLT) can be used as a first or second line of treatment. It is registered in gastroenteropancreatic NENs (GEP-NENs) as grades G1 and G2. Tumors with an unknown point of origin, diagnosed outside the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas (non-GEP) or at the G3 grade, remain in the “grey area” of treatment. Materials and Methods: Analysis of 51 patients with NENs who underwent RLT in a single highest reference center from 2018 to 2023 was performed. Treatment was administrated to the patients with neoplasms of unknown origin, non-GEP-NENs, and ones with G3 grade. In total, 35 patients received 177-Lutetium (7.4 GBq), while 16 received 177-Lutetium and 90-Yttrium with equal activities (1.85 + 1.85 GBq). Results: The progression-free survival (PFS) before RLT qualification was 34.39 ± 35.88 months for the whole study group. In subgroups of patients with an unknown tumor location (n = 25), the median PFS was 19 months (IQR = 23), with “other” locations (n = 21) at 31 months (IQR = 28), and with NEN G3 (n = 7) at 18 months (IQR = 40). After RLT, disease stabilization or regression was observed in 42 (87.5% of) patients. RLT did not cause statistical changes in creatinine or GFR values. Hematological parameters (RBC, WBC, PLT, HGB) as well as chromogranin A concentration decreased significantly. There were no statistical differences between both subgroups regarding the type of radioisotope (177-Lutetium vs. 177-Lutetium and 90-Yttrium). After RLT in long-term observation, the median observation time (OT) was 14 months (IQR = 18 months). In patients with progression (n = 8), the median PFS was 20 months (IQR = 16 months), while in patients with confirmed death (n = 9), the median overall survival (OS) was 8 months (IQR = 14 months). Conclusions: Our study showed that 87.5% of NEN patients with unknown origin, non-GEP-NENs, and those with GEP-NEN G3 grade had benefited from the radioligand therapy. There were no significantly negative impacts on renal parameters. The decrease of bone marrow parameters was acceptable in relation to beneficial disease course. The decrease of chromogranin concentration was confirmed as a predictive factor for disease stabilization or regression.
Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are neoplastic tumors developing in every part of the body, mainly in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Their treatment involves the surgical removal of the tumor and its metastasis, long-acting somatostatin analogs, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radioligand therapy (RLT). Materials and Methods: A total of 127 patients with progressive neuroendocrine neoplasms underwent RLT—4 courses, administered every 10 weeks—with the use of 7.4 GBq [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE or tandem therapy with 1.85 GBq [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE and 1.85 GBq [90Y]Y-DOTA-TATE. Assessment of short- and long-term complications, as well as the calculation of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed. Results: RLT caused a statistically but not clinically significant decrease in blood morphology parameters during both short- and long-term observations. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) significantly decreased only in a long-term observation after RLT; however, it was clinically acceptable. Computed predictions of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) indicated that five years post-RLT, there is a 74% chance of patients surviving, with only a 58.5% likelihood of disease progression. Conclusions: Computed predictions of PFS and OS confirmed treatment efficiency and good patient survival. RLT should be considered a safe and reliable line of treatment for patients with progressive NENs as it causes only a low number of low-grade adverse events.