Testing imaging scans to predict who benefits from targeted radiation therapy for neuroendocrine tumors

This trial is testing whether advanced imaging scans (called PET-MRI) can help doctors predict which patients will respond well to 177Lu-DOTATATE, a targeted radiation therapy for rare neuroendocrine tumors. The medication delivers radiation directly to cancer cells that have specific receptors, which makes it a precise treatment. Researchers want to understand if these special scans can identify patients who will benefit most from this therapy and help catch those who might need a different treatment sooner.

Currently, doctors don't have a reliable way to know in advance which patients will respond well to this medication, and some patients don't benefit from it at all. By studying detailed imaging scans before and during treatment, researchers hope to create a personalized approach that allows doctors to identify responders early and switch treatments faster for patients who won't benefit—potentially improving survival.