As
cancer research continues to evolve, we continue to push the envelope to bring
better, faster, more effective treatments to the forefront for our patients.
One
exciting recent advancement comes in the fight against pancreatic
neuroendocrine cancer. Often diagnosed in late stages, people with this type of
cancer traditionally have had limited options.
But a
breakthrough radiopharmaceutical treatment, or liquid radiation, recently
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is bringing new hope.
Understanding pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer
Although
similar in name, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) and pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma cancer, commonly known as pancreatic cancer, are biologically
very different. Pancreatic ductal cancer begins in the exocrine portion of the
pancreas, which is responsible for making the enzymes that help your body
digest food.
Pancreatic
neuroendocrine tumors, on the other hand, originate in the endocrine cells.
These cells are gathered in “islets,” which are essentially islands of
endocrine cells that are peppered throughout the pancreas. Pancreatic
neuroendocrine tumors consist of only about 5 percent of all pancreas tumors,
making it much more rare than pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Liquid radiation: A new wave of cancer therapy
For
decades, while research breakthroughs have been increasing people’s odds
against other types of cancers, the field of neuroendocrine oncology wasn’t
seeing much progress. But thanks to recent clinical trials, many of which
involved patients at Baylor University Medical Center and Texas Oncology at
Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, this disease has seen several new drug
approvals in just the past year.
One
exciting recent advancement is lutetium Lu 177 dotatate, a type of liquid
radiation that works by targeting a high dose of radiation at the cancerous
cells in the pancreas. Administered through an IV, the radioactive hormone
binds to the neuroendocrine cells, giving radiation directly to the cancerous
cells that need it.
In clinical trials, patients who received this
treatment saw a 79 percent reduction in the progression of their disease,
meaning this treatment has the potential to significantly slow the growth of
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Approved
by the FDA in January 2018, this treatment is a game-changer and a more
targeted alternative to chemotherapy and radiation.
Baylor
University Medical Center and Texas Oncology are one of the few locations in
the country already administering this treatment to eligible patients. Through
clinical trials in 2017, our patients and physicians were instrumental in
bringing the therapy to the point where it is today, and we’re excited to see
how advancements like this are catapulting us forward to a new level of cancer
care.
Because
no cancer is one-size-fits-all, unfortunately, this will not be the answer for
everyone diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. It also is not a
“cure,” either. But it is an extremely useful tool for oncologists to add to
the tool belt to slow down the progression of this disease.
I like
to tell my patients that cancers are a bit like people — they come in all
different shapes and sizes. Some are fast, some slow, some tall, some short.
This is one of the biggest challenges we face in all types of cancer, whether
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors or pancreatic ductal cancers.
Our
hope is that one day, we’ll have the treatment to fit every individual type of
cancer, rather than continuing to try “one size fits all” approaches.
In the
meantime, we will continue to push forward promising new treatments and
therapies to help give people the best possible odds in fighting this disease.
No comments:
Post a Comment