Molecular radiotherapy with somatostatin analogs for (neuro-)endocrine tumors.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) holds great promise for the future regarding the treatment of various cancers. With the use of radiolabelled peptides, which bind with high affinity to their receptors on cancer cells, it is possible to target the cancer efficiently. In gastroenteropancreatic tumors, radiolabelled somatostatin analog therapy has proven to be effective. Dose-limiting organs are the bone marrow and the kidneys. With the currently used dose schemes and kidney protection, PRRT is relatively safe and serious side-effecs are rare. Which radiolabelled somatostatin analog can be regarded as the most effective therapy cannot be concluded from the available literature. Also, the development of therapy strategies with combinations of different radionuclides and or peptides is of interest as these strategies may provide an increase in therapeutic efficacy in the future.