Case series reports transient stabilization but limited overall survival in advanced Merkel cell carcinoma, highlighting modest efficacy in refractory disease.
Key Points
Evaluate the safety, feasibility, and therapeutic outcomes of lutetium-177 oxodotreotide peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in patients with advanced, refractory Merkel cell carcinoma.
Reviewed three patients (aged 73, 45, and 77 years) with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma who failed or were intolerant to immune checkpoint inhibitors and cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Confirmed somatostatin receptor expression using indium-111 pentetreotide single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography prior to administering lutetium-177 oxodotreotide.
All three patients ultimately experienced disease progression, although one patient achieved transient disease stabilization with measurable tumor reduction.
Time from first treatment administration to death was 3.4, 4.2, and 1.4 months across the three cases, with no serious treatment-related adverse events reported.