Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Advanced Refractory Meningiomas: Efficacy and Toxicity in a Long Follow-up.

Recurrence of meningiomas after surgery and radiotherapy deserves specific attention because of the lack of active third-line therapies. Somatostatin receptors are usually overexpressed on the cell membrane of meningiomas, and this has led the way to a radionuclide theranostic approach. Diagnoses with 68Ga-DOTA-octreotide and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 90Y/177Lu-DOTA-octreotide are currently possible options within experimental protocols or as compassionate use in small patient groups.

Methods

From October 2009 to October 2021, 42 meningioma patients with radiologic recurrence after standard therapies were treated with 90Y-DOTATOC (dosage of 1.1 or 5.5 GBq) or with 177Lu-DOTATATE (dosage of 3.7 or 5.5 GBq) in a mean of 4 cycles. All patients showed intense uptake at diagnostic 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT or in an 111In-octreotide scan.

Results

Of 42 patients treated, 5 patients received 90Y-DOTATOC with a cumulative activity of 11.1 GBq and 37 patients received 177Lu-DOTATATE with a cumulative activity of 22 GBq. The disease control rate was 57%. With a median follow-up of 63 mo, median progression-free survival was 16 mo, and median overall survival was 36 mo. Retreatment 177Lu-PRRT was performed in 6 patients with an administered median activity of 13 GBq in a mean of 5 cycles. With a 75.8-mo follow-up, median progression-free survival and overall survival were 6.5 and 17 mo, respectively. Only 1 patient discontinued the treatment because of grade 3 platelet toxicity. A rapidly transient grade 2 neutropenia was recorded in 1 retreated patient.

Conclusion

PRRT in patients with advanced meningiomas overexpressing somatostatin receptor 2 was active and well tolerated, showing a 57% disease control rate. Furthermore, PRRT could represent a potential retreatment option. Further studies, also in combination with other treatments, are warranted.