SNMMI 2017: Combining PRRT With a PARP Inhibitor May Slow Neuroendocrine Tumor Growth
Patients with neuroendocrine tumors may experience fewer symptoms and survive longer by undergoing peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) combined with a drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy, said researchers at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) (Abstract 243).
PRRT Plus PARP Inhibition
The Canadian study evaluated lutetium-177 (Lu-177) octreotate PRRT, which has been found effective for slowing the growth of malignant peptide receptor–positive neuroendocrine tumors. The challenge is that damaged cells can naturally repair their DNA, which limits the effectiveness of PRRT. By blocking a protein called poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, or PARP, scientists can effectively override this process and induce more cell death—the objective being fewer and smaller tumors and increased survival for patients with neuroendocrine tumors.
“The use of PARP inhibitors is a promising approach to enhance targeted radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine cancer,” said Samuel Adant, a member of the research team from the CHU de Québec–Université Laval Research Center in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. “Furthermore, PARP inhibitors could enhance many other current and emerging radionuclide therapies.”
Study Details
The researchers used three-dimensional spheroid models (proven superior for replicating human tumor growth), rather than two-dimensional monolayer culture, for two separate human neuroendocrine tumor cell lines—one of gastroenteropancreatic origin and one of bronchopulmonary origin. These models were dosed for 5 days and then monitored for 15 days.
Major Findings
Results showed that more neuroendocrine tumor cancer cells died when PRRT and the PARP inhibitor were used together than when they were used separately. The combined treatment led to significantly inhibited cell proliferation, and it increased programmed cell death.
In the gastroenteropancreatic cell line, untreated control spheres increased in size by 16.7 times their original volume within 15 days. Spheres treated with Lu-177 octreotate alone grew by more than 5-fold their original volume, and those treated with only the PARP inhibitor grew 11-fold. Those with the combined treatment grew by only 1.9-fold.
The bronchopulmonary cell line revealed 11.4-fold growth for untreated controls, 4.6-fold growth for spheres treated with PRRT alone, 3.5-fold growth for those treated with only the PARP inhibitor, and 2.8-fold growth for those treated with both PRRT and the PARP inhibitor.
This method of combining Lu-177 octreotate and PARP inhibitors could be translated readily for improved management of peptide receptor–positive neuroendocrine cancer, because both drugs are already approved for oncologic use.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
