![]() ![]() “Studies show that Lutathera is an extremely effective treatment against these types of pancreatic or GI tumors,” said Anthony. Because of the active radiation, special precautions are taken while administering the therapy, and patients are given specific instructions around limiting close contact with others for several days after. Prior to receiving the drug, patients receive a 4-hour amino acid infusion to protect the kidneys, followed by the 30-minute Lutathera infusion. Then, therapy is administered in up to four total doses, given once every two months. Potential patients are first screened using the Netspot scan to determine whether the therapy will be effective for their type of tumor. Once it reaches the tumors, the cold drug wears off, allowing the radiation to kill the cancer. In other words, the “hot” radioactive drug is encased in a “cold” drug, which allows it to move throughout the bloodstream safely. ![]() After binding to the receptor, the drug enters the cell allowing radiation to cause damage to the tumor cells. Lutathera is a radioactive drug that works by binding to a part of a cell called a somatostatin receptor, which may be present on certain tumors. “Overall, I’ve done extremely well with it.” “I didn’t have anything to lose,” Roark said. In June 2018, Roark became the first Markey patient to receive a dose of the therapy. Roark was out of options – until early this year, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) called Lutathera specifically for neuroendocrine tumors occurring in the pancreas or gastrointestinal tract. Patients who receive this therapy have failed standard of care and/or have cancer that continues to progress.Īnthony, who was among the first oncologists to run clinical trials with the therapy dating back to 1995, was eager to bring the newly FDA-approved therapy to Markey. Despite a hepatic artery embolization to kill the blood supply to the tumors, the cancer continued to grow, and a gallium (Netspot) scan in 2017 showed that his liver was close to rupturing. But in 2016, his tumors began growing again, mostly proliferating in the liver. ![]() He was taken off CAPTEM and given temozolomide alone, followed by everolimus, which was safer for his heart.įor roughly a year, his cancer remained stable. However, Roark – who has a history of heart problems – had a heart attack shortly after, which led to a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. Roark received a combined oral chemotherapy of capecitabine and temozolomide (known as CAPTEM) to shrink his tumors. Lowell Anthony, who specializes in these neuroendocrine tumors. He then met with University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center medical oncologist Dr. His local pulmonologist referred him to UK HealthCare, where surgeons decided a resection of the tumors might be too dangerous. Roark was then diagnosed with a malignant lung neuroendocrine tumor, which had spread to his liver. Instead, the CAT scan showed liver abnormalities, requiring a biopsy. 4, 2018) –When Lawrenceburg resident Bobby Roark began having some discomfort in his back several years ago, he went to the doctor expecting a run-of-the-mill kidney stone diagnosis. ![]()
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