Can a radioactive drug shrink Slow-Growing tumours?
NCT ID NCT01876771
First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a radioactive drug called Lu-DOTA-TATE can shrink or slow neuroendocrine tumours — rare, slow-growing cancers that often spread before diagnosis. The drug delivers radiation directly to tumour cells that have a specific receptor on their surface. Researchers are measuring tumour response, survival, side effects, and quality of life in about 400 patients aged 14 to 90.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a radioactive drug called Lu-DOTA-TATE (lutetium-177 dotatate) that targets tumour cells
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a publicly funded treatment option for neuroendocrine tumours in Alberta, potentially improving survival and quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-arm, open-label study, so results may be less reliable than a blinded, controlled trial. The drug can cause side effects like blood cell changes and kidney stress.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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413 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2014
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2042
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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14 to 90 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Group A (Primary Therapy) Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female ≥ 14 - 90 years of age. 2. At least 1 tumour site reliably evaluable by CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of at least 1.0 cm (smallest dimension) or ≥ 1.5 cm lymph node disease (smallest dimension) (the target lesion) within 26 weeks of enrolment, with documented presence of somatostatin receptors on radionuclide imaging, with uptake greater than liver background as assessed by planar Octreoscan® images or Ga-68 labelled somatostatin analogue (68Ga-DOTATATE or 68Ga-HA-DOTATATE) PET imaging (or other available somatostatin receptor targeting PET agents) obtained within 1 year of enrolment. Patients with bone-only disease can be enrolled provided there is presence of somatostatin receptor positive tumour(s) on radionuclide imaging corresponding to osteolytic or osteoblastic bone lesions on CT or MRI, with uptake greater than liver background as assessed by planar Ocgtreoscan(R) images or somatostatin receptor PET imaging regardless of size. 3. Histologically confirmed diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor. 4. Progressive disease documented by anatomic imaging and/or presence of new lesions on somatostatin receptor imaging assessed by comparable studies. In the opinion of the investigator, patients with no progression on imaging may still be considered eligible in presence of carcinoid symptoms refractory to treatment with somatostatin receptor analogues or functional Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma symptoms that are not well controlled with current medical treatment. 5. 18F-FDG PET/CT whole-body imaging within 26 weeks of enrolment. 6. Life expectancy greater than 12 weeks from enrollment. 7. Serum creatinine ≤ 150 µmol/L, and a calculated (Cockcroft-Gault) or estimated GFR of ≥ 50 mL/min measured within 2 weeks of enrollment. 8. Haemoglobin concentration ≥ 90 g/L; white blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 2 x 10\^9/L; platelets ≥ 100 x 10\^9/L measured within 2 weeks of enrolment. 9. Liver function tests (total bilirubin, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST)) ≤ 3X the limit of normal measured within 2 weeks of enrolment. Serum albumin ≥ 23 g/L within 2 weeks of enrolment. 10. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale Score ≤ 2 measured within 2 weeks of enrolment. 11. Provide written informed consent prior to enrolment. Group B (Maintenance Therapy) Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female ≥ 14 - 90 years of age. 2. Have previously received Lu-DOTA-TATE treatment under the SAP. 3. Life expectancy greater than 12 weeks from enrolment. 4. Serum creatinine ≤ 150 μmol/L, and a calculated (Cockcroft-Gault) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of ≥ 50 mL/min measured within 2 weeks of enrolment. 5. Haemoglobin concentration ≥ 90 g/L; white blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 2 x 10\^9/L; platelets ≥ 100 x 10\^9/L measured within 2 weeks of enrolment. 6. Liver function tests (total bilirubin, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST)) ≤ 3X the limit of normal measured within 2 weeks of enrolment. Serum albumin ≥ 23 g/L within 2 weeks of enrolment. 7. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale Score ≤ 2 measured within 2 weeks of enrolment. 8. Provide written informed consent prior to enrolment. Group A (Primary Therapy) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have previously received Lu-DOTA-TATE therapy. 2. Potential for surgery with curative intent. Local surgery for symptomatic relief permitted as long as target lesion unaffected. 3. Major surgery within 12 weeks of enrolment. Minor surgeries such as removal of superficial skin lesions, laser eye surgery, cataract surgery, laparoscopic procedures and other procedures that are minimally invasive are permitted at the Investigator's discretion. 4. Liver embolization \[transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), TACE, or TARE\] within 4 weeks of enrolment. 5. Radioisotope therapy within 12 weeks of enrolment. 6. Systemic therapy: mTOR inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors within 6 weeks of enrolment; chemotherapy and interferon within 8 weeks of enrolment. 7. Change in long-acting somatostatin analogues, dosage, or dosage frequency within 12 weeks of enrolment unless changes are required to manage uncontrolled symptoms. 8. Localized external beam irradiation with target lesion(s) in the radiation field. Other localized external beam therapy is permitted. 9. Known brain metastases unless these metastases have been treated and stabilized (confirmed by CT) for ≥ 4 months prior to enrolment 10. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus defined as random glucose ≥ 2X the upper limit of normal (or HbA1c \> 10%, if results available) within 12 weeks of enrolment. 11. Another significant medical, psychiatric or surgical condition uncontrolled by treatment, which may interfere with completion or conduct of the study (such as urinary incontinence, co-existing malignancies). 12. Pregnancy. 13. Breast feeding. 14. Prior radiation therapy to more than 25% of the bone marrow. 15. If, in the opinion of the investigator, other treatments are considered more appropriate than the investigational therapy, based on patient and disease characteristics. 16. Known allergy to somatostatin analogues or any components of the study medication. Group B (Maintenance Therapy) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Another significant medical, psychiatric or surgical condition uncontrolled by treatment, which may interfere with completion or conduct of the study (such as urinary incontinence or co-existing malignancies). 2. Pregnancy. 3. Breast feeding. 4. Known allergy to somatostatin analogues or any components of the study medication.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1Z2, Canada
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