A method of molecular imaging that pinpoints hormonally active tissues in the body could change the course of treatment for a remarkable number of neuroendocrine cancer patients, say researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 59th Annual Meeting.

Results of the study indicated that PET/CT and Ga-68 DOTATATE was highly sensitive and specific for assessing neuroendocrine tumors and changed thecourse of treatment for a large number of patients. Prior to imaging, more than half of the 61 patients who were picked for the study were considered eligible for surgery to remove their cancer. The remaining 29 were determined to be inoperable. Subjects were then imaged using Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET/CT. After molecular imaging, about 36 percent of patients had a change in their management. Of those who were originally classified as operable, 14 were subsequently considered ineligible for surgery. For patients who were at first considered inoperable, 8 patients went on to have surgical resection of their tumors.

"This is the first prospective trial investigating the role of Gallium-68 DOTATATE in a multidisciplinary clinical setting and its impact on further patient management," says Schaefer. "Molecular imaging with this biomarker is already available in several centers around the world, and expansion of its use has the potential to help these patients and their treating physicians, who can use it to set up a clinical plan in one single investigation."

To read the full release please visit the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging website.