Treatment of patients who have endocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors with radiolabeled somatostatin analogues.

Treatment with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs is a promising new tool in the management of patients who have inoperable or metastasized endocrine tumors. Symptomatic improvement may occur with all (111)In-, (90)Y-, or (177)Lu-labeled somatostatin analogs that have been used for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. The results that were obtained with [(90)Y-DOTA degrees ,Tyr(3)]octreotide and [(177)Lu-DOTA degrees ,Tyr(3)]octreotate are encouraging in tumor regression. Also, if kidney-protective agents are used, the side effects of this therapy are few and mild. These data compare favorably with the limited number of alternative treatment approaches.