Treating GEP-NET: Are You a Candidate for Radioligand Therapy?

Is radioligand therapy right for you?

Radioligand therapy is given by an infusion that targets receptors on the tumor cells called somatostatin receptors. If your GEP-NETs have a lot of somatostatin receptors, radioligand therapy might work well for you.

In order to determine this, your care team will do an imaging test called a PET dotatate scan. 

“That scan allows us to determine how much of the receptor is on the tumor cells and in all the sites that the disease is present,” says Perez. If your tumor cells do not have enough of these receptors, radioligand therapy may not be right for you.

Another factor is whether your cancer is stable or progressing. If it turns out that your tumor is stable, this means that it isn’t growing. This means you may not need radioligand therapy.

Is radioligand therapy safe for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding?

There hasn’t been any research done on whether radioligand therapy is effective if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are, you may not be a good candidate for radioligand therapy.

What are tips to talk to your care team about GEP-NET treatments?

Before you receive radioligand therapy, here are a few tips from Perez about how to get the most out of your treatment:

• Write down your questions for your care team beforehand

• Send messages to your doctor before the visit

• Bring a loved one with you to your appointment

“I think the most important part of the care team relationship is that they’re aware of what your needs and questions are,” she adds.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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