Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy Achieves 57% Disease Control in Refractory Brain Tumors
PRRT using somatostatin-targeting peptides achieved 57% disease control in 42 patients with meningiomas that had failed surgery and radiotherapy, with median overall survival of 36 months and excellent tolerability.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
42 patients treated with PRRT (5 with 90Y-DOTATOC, 37 with 177Lu-DOTATATE). Disease control rate: 57%. Median PFS: 16 months. Median OS: 36 months (63-month follow-up). 6 patients retreated with 177Lu-PRRT (retreatment PFS: 6.5 months, OS: 17 months). Only 1 treatment discontinuation for grade 3 platelet toxicity.
Key Numbers
Long-term follow-up data. Diagnosis with 68Ga-DOTA-octreotide PET/CT; treatment with 90Y/177Lu-DOTA-octreotide.
How They Did This
Single-center retrospective cohort study. 42 meningioma patients with radiologic recurrence after surgery and radiotherapy treated with 90Y-DOTATOC (1.1-5.5 GBq) or 177Lu-DOTATATE (3.7-5.5 GBq) in ~4 cycles (Oct 2009-Oct 2021). All confirmed somatostatin receptor overexpression on 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT or 111In-octreotide scan.
Why This Research Matters
Recurrent meningiomas after surgery and radiation have essentially no effective third-line treatment options. PRRT targeting somatostatin receptors provides a viable therapeutic option for these patients, with meaningful disease control and a favorable side effect profile.
The Bigger Picture
This represents the expansion of peptide-targeted radionuclide therapy beyond its established role in neuroendocrine tumors to brain tumors. As more tumor types are found to express somatostatin receptors, PRRT could become a broader oncologic tool, offering treatment for cancers with few other options.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective single-center study. No control group. Mixed use of two different radioisotopes (90Y and 177Lu). Small retreatment cohort (n=6). Disease control doesn't always mean tumor shrinkage — includes stable disease. Selection bias toward patients with strong somatostatin receptor expression.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should PRRT be considered earlier in the meningioma treatment algorithm, before exhausting surgery and radiation options?
- ?What is the optimal radioisotope (90Y vs 177Lu) and number of PRRT cycles for meningiomas?
- ?Could PRRT be combined with other treatments for enhanced meningioma control?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 57% disease control Somatostatin peptide-targeted PRRT controlled disease in 57% of meningioma patients who had run out of standard treatment options
- Evidence Grade:
- Rated moderate: long follow-up (63 months) and meaningful clinical outcomes, but limited by retrospective design, no control group, and small sample size.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024, covering a 12-year treatment period (2009-2021). Represents one of the longest follow-up datasets for PRRT in meningiomas.
- Original Title:
- Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Advanced Refractory Meningiomas: Efficacy and Toxicity in a Long Follow-up.
- Published In:
- Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 65(9), 1409-1415 (2024)
- Authors:
- Severi, Stefano, Grassi, Ilaria, Bongiovanni, Alberto, Nicolini, Silvia, Marini, Irene, Arpa, Donatella, Ranallo, Nicoletta, Azzali, Irene, Di Iorio, Valentina, Sarnelli, Anna, Manuela, Monti, Amadori, Elena, Fabbri, Lucia, Bartolini, Daniela, Tosatto, Luigino, Di Meco, Francesco, Gurrieri, Lorena, Riva, Nada, Calabro, Luana, Matteucci, Federica, Paganelli, Giovanni, Sansovini, Maddalena
- Database ID:
- RPEP-09239
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can PRRT treat meningioma brain tumors?
Yes — this study showed that PRRT using somatostatin-targeting radioactive peptides controlled disease in 57% of meningioma patients who had failed surgery and radiation. Median survival was 36 months with minimal side effects.
How does PRRT work for brain tumors?
Meningiomas often have many somatostatin receptors on their surface. PRRT attaches a radioactive atom to a somatostatin-binding peptide, which seeks out and irradiates the tumor from within. It's like a targeted radiation delivery system.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-09239APA
Severi, Stefano; Grassi, Ilaria; Bongiovanni, Alberto; Nicolini, Silvia; Marini, Irene; Arpa, Donatella; Ranallo, Nicoletta; Azzali, Irene; Di Iorio, Valentina; Sarnelli, Anna; Manuela, Monti; Amadori, Elena; Fabbri, Lucia; Bartolini, Daniela; Tosatto, Luigino; Di Meco, Francesco; Gurrieri, Lorena; Riva, Nada; Calabro, Luana; Matteucci, Federica; Paganelli, Giovanni; Sansovini, Maddalena. (2024). Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Advanced Refractory Meningiomas: Efficacy and Toxicity in a Long Follow-up.. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 65(9), 1409-1415. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.123.266956
MLA
Severi, Stefano, et al. "Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Advanced Refractory Meningiomas: Efficacy and Toxicity in a Long Follow-up.." Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, 2024. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.123.266956
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Advanced Refractory..." RPEP-09239. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/severi-2024-peptide-receptor-radionuclide-therapy
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.