Randomized Interval Assessment Trial of Lu177-Dotatate Every 8 Versus Every 16 Weeks in Slowly Progressive G1-2 Advanced Midgut Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) to Lower TOxicity
This is a randomized Phase II/late phase I de-escalation clinical trial with approved investigational medicinal products in new use condition, low intervention. Disease under study Patients with unresectable or metastatic, slowly progressive, well-differentiated (Grade1 and Grade2), somatostatin receptor-positive midgut neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). It is planned to randomize 166 patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of slowly progressive grade 1 or grade 2 advanced midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) candidates to receive 177Lu-Dotatate targeted radioligand therapy (RLT). Patients are required to have SSTR+ disease, as evidenced on somatostatin receptor imaging. Patients will be randomized into two arms: 1. control arm: regimen 177Lu-Dotatate every 8 weeks (q8w) 2. experimental arm: regimen 177Lu-Dotatate every 16 weeks (q16w) Research hypothesis: Less intensive somatostatin-receptor (SST) targeted radioligand therapy (RLT) (7.4 GBq/cycle 177Lu-Dotatate every 16 weeks x 4 cycles) is associated with less severe hematological toxicities and may mitigate the risk to develop therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) with similar antitumor efficacy in slowly growing gastrointestinal grade 1-2 NETs.
• Patients who have histologically confirmed diagnosis of unresectable, advanced or metastatic midgut NETs (originated in the jejunum-ileum or right colon) who are candidates to receive 177Lu-Dotatate targeted radioligand therapy (RLT) and SSA. Patients with a large SRI+ mesenteric mass with abdominal-dominant disease judged by the investigator to be a midgut NET will also be eligible.
• Ki-67 index ≤ 20%.
• Disease progression per RECIST v1.1 within 36 months prior to study entry,
• Patients may be treatment naïve (first-line) or have received prior systemic therapy except for any type of prior RLT (not restricted to 177Lu-Dotatate).
• In somatostatin receptor (SSTR) imaging all RECIST v1.1 evaluable target lesions and non-target lesions need to be SSTR positive (SSTR+) as defined by equal or above the liver uptake (this includes lesions of at least 10 mm in diameter in CT or MRI). If an FDG PET is performed (not mandatory), all FDG PET positive lesions should also be somatostatin receptor positive in SSRT imaging (see guidance Appendix 10).
• Measurable disease according to RECIST v1.1 criteria (Appendix 3)
• Adequate organ function (hematological, renal and liver) based upon meeting all of the following laboratory criteria:
‣ Neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 2.000/mm3
⁃ Platelet count ≥ 75 × 109/L
⁃ Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL
⁃ Serum bilirubin ≤ 3.0 × upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 3 × ULN for subjects with Gilbert's disease
⁃ Serum albumin \<3.0 g/dL unless prothrombin time is within the normal range.
⁃ Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 50 mL/min as estimated by the Cockroft-Gault formula or as measured by 24-hour urine collection (GFR can also be used instead of CrCl). Note: renal tract obstruction is not allowed.
⁃ Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 × ULN or ≤ 5 xULN for subjects with liver metastases
• Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scale ≥ 70%
• Patient information and signing of the consent form, Institutional Review Board(IRB)/Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) approved, before any study-specific procedure. The patient must be able and willing to cooperate in monitoring study visits and procedures.
⁃ Patients ≥ 18 years of age.
⁃ Recovery to Grade ≤ 1 from any adverse event (AE) from prior treatment (excluding alopecia and/or asthenia).
⁃ Life expectancy ≥ 12 months.
⁃ Patients with health coverage (public or private), that includes coverage for patients enrolled in clinical trials, to both study treatments and determinations/procedures.
⁃ Female subject must provide a negative urine pregnancy test at screening, and must agree to use a medically accepted and highly effective birth control method (i.e. those with a failure rate less than 1%; refer to Appendix 4) for the duration of the study treatment and for 7 months after the final dose of study treatment. Sexually active men must agree to use the male condom during the study and until at least 7 months after the last administration of treatment. Additionally, it is recommended that your female partner of childbearing age use a highly effective method of contraception.
⁃ Subject agrees not to participate in another interventional study while on treatment in the present study.