Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) form from abnormal neuroendocrine cells, which are hormone cells found throughout the body, especially in the lungs, stomach and intestines. This tumor type is rare, but still affects over 47,000 people in the US and European Union annually. Sometimes benign but sometimes cancerous, the tumor can lurk undetected for years and delay diagnosis and treatment. Thus with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy interventions, the five-year survival rate still hovers between 50 to 60 percent.
Netspot is a diagnostic solution to detecting NETs. The single-dose kit prepares a radioactive substance, known as gallium Ga 68 dotatate, as an injectable. This radioconjugate has the capacity to bind to somatostatin receptors that are present on the hormone-producing NETs. Then, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging reveals the locations of these tumors. Uptake of the Ga 68 dotatate also reveals the density of the tumors. From a chemical affinity perspective, Ga 68 dotatate binds to the somatostatin receptors much stronger than the body’s somatostatin hormone. This allows for clear and accurate visualization of the tumors, if they are present.
The new intervention has already undergone three clinical trials, in which its safety and efficacy was stringently tested. In one of the trials, the company compared Netspot against standard imaging techniques and demonstrated that Netspot performed better. They reported no adverse reactions from Netspot.
Following the approval, the company plans to make Netspot available to doctors as soon as possible. They note that although NETs are designated as rare tumors, otherwise called an “orphan disease,” the incidence of this tumor has grown over 500 percent over the past 30 years. As such, making better diagnostic tools available for the detection of these tumors can yield better outcome for the patients involved.
Additional source: Advanced Accelerator Applications press release