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The following is a summary of “Impact of functionality and grading on survival in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor patients receiving peptide receptor radionuclide therapy,” published in the April 2025 issue of Frontiers in Endocrinology by Mathew et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine the real-world effectiveness of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) and its association with tumor grade and functionality in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET).  

They assessed 166 individuals with histologically confirmed metastatic PanNET. Subgroup evaluations were carried out to determine progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after receiving PRRT, with data stratified based on tumor grade, presence of functional tumors, and existence of bone metastases.  

The results showed that among 166 individuals, 100 (60.2%) underwent PRRT, receiving a median of 4 cycles. Within this PRRT group, 68% had died, PFS after 4 and 8 PRRT cycles was 20 and 18 months, respectively (P = 0.4). The OS across the cohort was 79 months, increasing to 87 months in those with 4 or more cycles and 100 months in those with 5 or more cycles. Individuals with grade 1 or 2 tumors had a significantly longer OS of 97 months, compared to 74.5 months for grade 3 tumors (P = 0.0055). The OS did not significantly differ between functioning and non-functioning tumors following PRRT. Those with bone metastases who received PRRT had a shorter OS of 74 months vs 89 months in those without (P = 0.013). In 19% of PRRT recipients, treatment was halted due to progressive disease, adverse effects, or death.  

Investigators concluded that patients receiving extended cycles of PRRT had shown improved survival outcomes in metastatic PanNET, especially those with lower tumor grades and without bone metastases, and while no survival difference was observed between functioning and non-functioning PanNET, patients with grade 3 tumors and bone metastases had experienced significantly shorter survival despite PRRT. 

Source: frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1526470/full