This episode of NETRF’s NETWise podcast discusses Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) a targeted form of radiotherapy approved in the U.S. in 2018. Listen in as NET experts like Josh Mailman, Drs. George Fisher, Thor Halfdanarson, Ed Wolin, Richard Baum, and others explain what it is, how it works, and who is most likely to benefit from PRRT. This therapy relies on a tumor’s expression of somatostatin receptors. We explain what they are and how to know if you have them.

Then, we’ll take an objective look at the success rates for this therapy. What does research, like the NETTER-1 study, tell us about outcomes for this form of treatment? To give you information about both the pros and cons of PRRT, we will also discuss the potential side effects, from mild to serious. To give you a sense of what it is like to undergo PRRT, we’ll talk with multiple patients about their experience with the procedure itself, as well as the radiation safety precautions patients should take immediately following treatment. Finally, we look to the future asking Drs. Rod Hicks and Tom Hope to explain some of the new therapeutic directions PRRT is taking.

PRRT for NETs. This handout explains how radioactive drugs are able to target NET cells with radioactivity using PRRT.

What is PRRT? A quick guide to answer your most basic questions about the pros and cons of PRRT.  What are the benefits of PRRT? What are the potential side effects of PRRT?  Who can be treated with PRRT? 

Nuclear Medicine Treatments

Gallium-68 Dotatate PET/CT Scan

Search for PRRT treatment Centers Near You

What’s Next in PRRT Treatment

VIDEO: How PRRT Works and Who Benefits – Dr. Blase Polite, University of Chicago

VIDEO: What to Expect During PRRT Treatment – Karen Ohara, Rush University Medical Center

VIDEO: How PRRT Can Improve Care for NET Patients

VIDEO: Combining PRRT with Targeted Therapy

VIDEO: Tb-161: Exploring a New Radionuclide for PRRT

Request a mailed copy of our Neuroendocrine Cancer Guide

Information and Resources for the Newly Diagnosed

NETRF YouTube Channel

The post NETWise Episode 4: Nuclear Medicine for NETs: What is PRRT? appeared first on NETRF.

In this episode of NETWise, we discuss two common treatments for neuroendocrine tumors. Treatment, like surgery and interventional radiology, can reduce the number and size of NETs as well as reduce some of the symptoms caused by tumors.

Did you know that almost 70% of NET patients have surgery? In this episode, NET surgeons describe surgical procedures like “debulking” and the whipple procedure. We also hear how endoscopies are used to treat NETs. Here is a hint. Have you ever played Pac-Man?

You will also learn more about “multi-focal primaries” in the small bowel and how surgeons can employ minimally invasive surgical techniques to “run the small bowel.” We also speak with an expert thoracic surgery about several surgical options for lung NETs.

We will explain enucleation surgery and talk more about all the surgery jargon you often hear and what it means for patients.

Last, but not least, NETWise covers all the information you need to know about interventional radiology (IR) for NETs. We describe bland embolization, chemoembolization, radioembolization, and radiofrequency ablation. Finally, two patients add their surgery experiences to the podcast as they talk about their decisions to have surgery and their respective recoveries.

If you are scheduled for upcoming NET surgery, please consider donating tumor tissue to fill the urgent need for use in laboratory research. Find out more here.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract Surgeries: Anatomical illustrations show what tissue is removed during surgery, with explanations about the most common GI surgeries for NETs.

Pancreatic Surgeries:  The pancreas is surrounded by important organs and made up of different parts. Take a look at these illustrations to improve your understanding  of pancreas anatomy and the different surgeries used to treat it.

Lung Surgeries: Illustrations depict the different parts of your respiratory system. See how different  surgical approaches are used to remove tumor tissue, while preserving healthy tissue. 

Liver-directed Therapies: See the explanations and illustrations about how interventional radiology removes or reduces liver NETs, with information about different types of embolization and ablation.

Los Angeles-based patient support group LACNETS has developed a NET quiz based on this NETWise podcast. Once you’ve finished listening, test your knowledge.  

Tumor Grade and Stage

Find a NET Specialist

Donate Tumor Tissue for NET Research

NET Surgery

Interventional Radiology for NETs

Distal pancreatectomy

Enucleation

Pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple Surgery)

Small bowel resection

Lobectomy

Pneumonectomy

Sleeve resection

Wedge resection

Request a mailed copy of our Neuroendocrine Cancer Guide

Information and Resources for the Newly Diagnosed

NETRF YouTube Channel

The post NETWise Episode 3: Surgery and Interventional Radiology for NETs appeared first on NETRF.

Learn about important neuroendocrine tumor diagnostic tests including Gallium 68, Ki-67, and 5-HIAA. Listen as NETWise takes you on a journey to diagnose neuroendocrine cancer. This episode discusses some common NET tests so you can understand their role in your treatment planning and be better able to understand what the results mean. You will hear from two patients about their experiences with diagnosis and monitoring. We explore imaging in this episode, describing CT and MRI scans, PET-CT scans, FDG-PET, octreotide scans, and Gallium-68 (Ga-68) dotatate PET. You will hear about endoscopy and biopsy. Pathology plays a role in determining a diagnosis as well as determining grade. You will learn about well-differentiated and poorly-differentiated NETs and what that may mean for determining treatment. We also talk about blood and urine tests and how they may be used for detection and monitoring. Finally, we speak with physicians about building an expert care team and how you can work with both a local doctor and distant expert to get the best care.

From blood-testing to x-rays, and everything in between, learn more about the many different ways NETs are diagnosed and monitored.

NETs are a complicated disease and many people may be included in your care. Check out how many different people could be a part of your care and support team.

Los Angeles-based patient support group LACNETS has developed a NET quiz based on this NETWise podcast. Once you’ve finished listening, test your knowledge: Part 1, Part 2.  

Diagnostic Testing for NETs

Imaging Tests for NETs

Blood Tests for NETs

Urine Testing for NETs

Tissue Tests for NETs

Tumor Grade and Stage

Find a NET Specialist

Donate Tumor Tissue for NET Research

Request a mailed copy of our Neuroendocrine Cancer Guide

Information and Resources for the Newly Diagnosed

NETRF YouTube Channel

Navigating the NET Patient Journey – Healing NET Foundation Guide

The post NETWise Episode 2: Imaging, Testing, and Building a Care Team appeared first on NETRF.