Mauro Cives, MD, Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Bari, Italy, discusses the upcoming regulatory decision for LNTH-2501 to improve imaging of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).
NETs are rare tumors that usually develop in the gastrointestinal tract or lungs, but may develop in other parts of the body, such as the pancreas, testicle, or ovary. The tumor may produce hormone-like substances that spread to the body and cause symptoms of carcinoid syndrome, such as flushing of the face and chest, diarrhea, and trouble breathing. Symptoms may vary depending on where the tumor is located.NETs are also hard to diagnose due to their clinically challenging presentation.The cause of NETs is unknown.
Dr. Cives explains how imaging, both anatomical and functional, plays a key role in diagnosis and treatment. Particularly, anatomical (i.e., CT scan, MRI) scanning can give information regarding the location and burden of the tumor masses. Functional imaging (i.e., gallium PET/CT scan) can provide information on location and expression of somatostatin receptors on the surface of the tumor cells.
LNTH-2501 (Kit for Preparation of Ga 68 edotreotide Injection) is a radioactive diagnostic kit designed to support PET imaging for localization of somatostatin receptor positive NETs in adult and pediatric patients. LNTH-2501 has a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) PDUFA date of June 29, 2026. The approval will give the ability to detect these malignancies and understand if they can be effectively treated by peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).
Dr. Cives also highlights the importance of referring patients to Centers of Excellence to get the specific care they need and have access to all technology and treatments available for NETs.
For more information, click here.
To learn more about NETs and other rare endocrine disorders, visit https://checkrare.com/diseases/endocrine-disorders/
