Peptide-Based Imaging and Therapy Targets Rare Lung Metastases from Brain Tumor | Research

The takeaway

A rare case of meningioma lung metastases was detected using peptide-based PET/CT imaging and successfully treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

Theranostic success
Same peptide target (SSTR) used for both diagnosis and treatment of metastatic meningioma

What the researchers found

Refractory meningioma with lung metastases showed high somatostatin receptor expression on 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT, enabling successful targeted treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.

Why it matters

Demonstrates that peptide-based theranostics (combined diagnosis and therapy) can manage rare metastatic meningiomas that fail conventional treatments.

How the study worked

Single case report of a meningioma patient with lung metastases diagnosed by 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT and treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE PRRT.

What this study cannot tell us

Single case report — cannot be generalized. Not all meningiomas express somatostatin receptors at levels sufficient for PRRT.

How to read the evidence

Single case report — lowest level of clinical evidence but demonstrates proof of concept for an uncommon clinical scenario.

When this study was published

Published in 2026; reflects current availability of DOTA-peptide imaging and PRRT.

The bigger picture

This case illustrates the growing power of peptide-based theranostics — using the same molecular target for both diagnosis and treatment — which is revolutionizing cancer care beyond neuroendocrine tumors.

Questions still open

Should all refractory meningiomas be screened for SSTR expression using DOTA-peptide PET/CT?
How durable are PRRT responses in metastatic meningioma?

Common questions

What is PRRT?

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) uses radioactive peptides that bind to specific receptors on tumor cells, delivering targeted radiation directly to the cancer while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Can brain tumors spread to the lungs?

Meningioma metastasis is very rare, but it can happen with aggressive (WHO grade II-III) tumors. The lungs are the most common site for meningioma metastases when they do occur.

Read the original research

Lung Metastases from Meningioma Diagnosed on Whole Body 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT and Successfully Targeted With 177Lu-DOTATATE.

Clinical nuclear medicine, 51(4), 335-337

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Bekkhoucha, Adam; Agrigoroaie, Laurentiu; Deandreis, Desiree; Guyon, David; Chehade, Feras. (2026). Lung Metastases from Meningioma Diagnosed on Whole Body 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT and Successfully Targeted With 177Lu-DOTATATE.. Clinical nuclear medicine, 51(4), 335-337. https://doi.org/10.1097/RLU.0000000000006352