Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses

Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses. The FDA granted the approval of Lutathera to Advanced Accelerator Applications.

Lutathera is a drug designed to treat cancer specially gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors involving pancreas, stomach, intestines, rectum, colon and any other region in gastrointestinal tract. It also include pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors which have somatostatin receptors. It is a radioactive drug with active ingredient lutetium 177 dotatate. Pancreatic neurocrine tumors are most common tumors above all other pancreatic tumors. Lutathera drug belongs to pharmacological class of somatostatin analogs. Somatostatin is a primary hormone which actively binds to somatostatin receptors and leads to production and release of secondary hormones.

It is the 1st ever radioactive drug introduced and also known as radiopharmaceutical. There are two main reasons behind approval of this drug 1st one is randomized clinical trial which consist of 229 patients treated with Lutathera drug and chemotherapy drug i.e. octreotide. In this case, Lutathera increased progression free survival rate of patients. 2nd reason is clinical trials based on 360 patients and only Lutathera drug is administered. As a result tumor got shrink in about 16 percent of patients.


Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses

Lutathera Mechanism of Action

       
Lutathera drug is a radioactive drug which is used to treat cancer of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine.it is a peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. It belongs to pharmacological class of somatostatin analogs. It is a type of hormone which primarily bind to somatostatin receptor and leads to production or release of secondary hormones. Lutathera drug bind to these receptors as a somatostatin analog and change the level of secondary hormones. This change in level of secondary hormone will reduce symptoms of tumor as well as slow down the growth of cancer cells present in certain organs.


Lutathera Dosage

       
Lutathera drug is available in the form of an intravenous dosage form. It is available in two strengths i.e. 370 mBq/ml single dose vial and in each vial solution volume is adjusted from 20.5 to 25 ml in order to provide 7.4 GBq of radioactivity per vial. In case of neuroendocrine tumors, 7.4 GBq IV 4 times a day for about 8 weeks is administered with other medications. Dose adjustment is required in case of renal and hepatic impairment, pregnancy and lactation, thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia, renal toxicity, hepatotoxicity and other non-hematological toxicity.


Lutathera Uses

         
Lutathera drug is a radioactive drug used for treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. It is administered with pre medications and concomitant medications. Long acting somatostatin analog should discontinue at least 4 weeks before Lutathera drug treatment. Patient can take small acting octreotide if required. During Lutathera treatment, long term Lutathera can be administered. If antiemetic are prescribed, then it should be administer almost 30 min before lutetium treatment. Amino acid solution in intravenous form should be initiated before Lutathera treatment. A 3 way valve is used for this purpose to inject both solutions via same venous access.

Lutathera Side effects


Side effects of Lutathera involves high level of working enzymes in associated organs, level of white blood cells become low, high blood sugar level, vomiting, nausea and last but not least high level of potassium in blood.

Post a Comment

0 Comments