Introduction: Neuroendocrine neoplasms are rare cancers that originate from neuroendocrine cells, organs, and cells of the diffuse endocrine system. The expression of somatostatin receptors on tumor cells enables targeted radionuclide therapy. This form of therapy is considered targeted because tumor cells express somatostatin receptors, which can bind to radiolabelled compounds. Currently, the radionuclides90Y and 177Lu are in clinical use. Initially, only 90Y was used, but as the therapy evolved, it became evident that90Y could induce significant toxicity in some patients. As a result, 177Lu was introduced into clinical use, and has since demonstrated a more favourable toxicity profile in clinical studies. Purpose: The aim of the thesis is to present through a systematic literature review what is the radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine neoplasms and with a focus on the therapeutic radionuclides used in nuclear medicine. Additionally, the thesis aims to identify the radionuclides that are currently the most effective and widely used in clinical practice, and to analyse the key differences between them. Methods: In writing this thesis, we used the descriptive method, specifically a systematic literature review. We found scientific articles in various databases such as Mendeley, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM), and SpringerLink. The search and review of the literature took place from October 2024 to March 2025. Results: The results are presented in two parts. The first part schematically shows the process of the literature review, the analysis and selection of scientific articles. In the second part, we carefully examined the selected articles based on: sample characteristics, purpose, and findings. The selected literature includes studies conducted on patients and mice in both clinical and laboratory settings. The analysis of the articles showed that radionuclide therapy for NEN is still evolving. Its effectiveness is reliable and has shown positive results for various types of NEN. Discussion and conclusion: Based on research, we have found that radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine neoplasms is continuously evolving. Owing to its affinity for somatostatin receptors, it represents a safe and effective treatment for various types of NEN. The main radionuclides used in clinical practice are 90Y and 177Lu, with combination therapy also being a viable option. The main difference between the two lies in the level of toxicity they may induce in certain tissues. To reduce this toxicity and protect the kidneys, amino acids can be administered.
|
