Clinical Research Directory

Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Rare Tumors

This phase II trial studies nivolumab and ipilimumab in treating patients with rare tumors. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. This trial enrolls participants for the following cohorts based on condition: 1. Epithelial tumors of nasal cavity, sinuses, nasopharynx: A) Squamous cell carcinoma with variants of nasal cavity, sinuses, and nasopharynx and trachea (excluding laryngeal, nasopharyngeal cancer \[NPC\], and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck \[SCCHN\]) B) Adenocarcinoma and variants of nasal cavity, sinuses, and nasopharynx (closed to accrual 07/27/2018) 2. Epithelial tumors of major salivary glands (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 3. Salivary gland type tumors of head and neck, lip, esophagus, stomach, trachea and lung, breast and other location (closed to accrual) 4. Undifferentiated carcinoma of gastrointestinal (GI) tract 5. Adenocarcinoma with variants of small intestine (closed to accrual 05/10/2018) 6. Squamous cell carcinoma with variants of GI tract (stomach small intestine, colon, rectum, pancreas) (closed to accrual 10/17/2018) 7. Fibromixoma and low grade mucinous adenocarcinoma (pseudomixoma peritonei) of the appendix and ovary (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 8. Rare pancreatic tumors including acinar cell carcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma or serous cystadenocarcinoma. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is not eligible (closed to accrual) 9. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 10. Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and bile duct tumors (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 11. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of lung 12. Bronchoalveolar carcinoma lung. This condition is now also referred to as adenocarcinoma in situ, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma, or invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma 13. Non-epithelial tumors of the ovary: A) Germ cell tumor of ovary B) Mullerian mixed tumor and adenosarcoma (closed to accrual 03/30/2018) 14. Trophoblastic tumor: A) Choriocarcinoma (closed to accrual) 15. Transitional cell carcinoma other than that of the renal, pelvis, ureter, or bladder (closed to accrual) 16. Cell tumor of the testes and extragonadal germ tumors: A) Seminoma and testicular sex cord cancer B) Non seminomatous tumor C) Teratoma with malignant transformation (closed to accrual) 17. Epithelial tumors of penis - squamous adenocarcinoma cell carcinoma with variants of penis (closed to accrual) 18. Squamous cell carcinoma variants of the genitourinary (GU) system 19. Spindle cell carcinoma of kidney, pelvis, ureter 20. Adenocarcinoma with variants of GU system (excluding prostate cancer) (closed to accrual 07/27/2018) 21. Odontogenic malignant tumors 22. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) (formerly named: Endocrine carcinoma of pancreas and digestive tract.) (closed to accrual) 23. Neuroendocrine carcinoma including carcinoid of the lung (closed to accrual 12/19/2017) 24. Pheochromocytoma, malignant (closed to accrual) 25. Paraganglioma (closed to accrual 11/29/2018) 26. Carcinomas of pituitary gland, thyroid gland parathyroid gland and adrenal cortex (closed to accrual) 27. Desmoid tumors 28. Peripheral nerve sheath tumors and NF1-related tumors (closed to accrual 09/19/2018) 29. Malignant giant cell tumors 30. Chordoma (closed to accrual 11/29/2018) 31. Adrenal cortical tumors (closed to accrual 06/27/2018) 32. Tumor of unknown primary (Cancer of Unknown Primary; CuP) (closed to accrual 12/22/2017) 33. Not Otherwise Categorized (NOC) Rare Tumors \[To obtain permission to enroll in the NOC cohort, contact: S1609SC@swog.org\] (closed to accrual 03/15/2019) 34. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (closed to accrual 02/06/2018) 35. Vulvar cancer (closed to accrual) 36. MetaPLASTIC carcinoma (of the breast) (closed to accrual) 37. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) (closed to accrual 09/26/2018) 38. Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) 39. Apocrine tumors/extramammary Paget's disease (closed to accrual) 40. Peritoneal mesothelioma 41. Basal cell carcinoma (temporarily closed to accrual 04/29/2020) 42. Clear cell cervical cancer 43. Esthenioneuroblastoma (closed to accrual) 44. Endometrial carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Mullerian tumors) (closed to accrual) 45. Clear cell endometrial cancer 46. Clear cell ovarian cancer (closed to accrual) 47. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) 48. Gallbladder cancer 49. Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type 50. PD-L1 amplified tumors 51. Angiosarcoma 52. High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor \[PNET\] should be enrolled in Cohort 22; prostatic neuroendocrine carcinomas should be enrolled into Cohort 53). Small cell lung cancer is not eligible (closed to accrual) 53. Treatment-emergent small-cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-SCNC)

Prospective Cohort Study of Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma

The study will enroll patients scheduled for PPGL removal surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Before surgery, researchers will use a 6-variable model to predict the patient's risk of experiencing severe blood pressure swings during the operation. During surgery, a real-time early warning tool will be tested for its ability to accurately predict blood pressure changes 60 seconds in advance. The study will also explore the value of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in understanding blood pressure fluctuations and evaluate the performance of an artificial intelligence (AI) agent for preoperative anesthesia assessment, comparing its accuracy, consistency, and efficiency against that of human anesthesiologists. Participation involves no changes to the patient's standard surgical or medical care. It includes collecting clinical data, wearing a CGM sensor from the day before to the day after surgery, and having the preoperative assessment performed by both the AI agent and anesthesiologists.

Lu-177-DOTATATE (Lutathera) in Therapy of Inoperable Pheochromocytoma/ Paraganglioma

Background: Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare tumors. They usually form inside and near the adrenal gland or in the neck region. Not all these tumors can be removed with surgery, and there are no good treatments if the disease has spread. Researchers think a new drug may be able to help. Objective: To learn the safety and tolerability of Lu-177-DOTATATE. Also, to see if it improves the length of time it takes for the cancer to return. Eligibility: Adults who have an inoperable tumor of the study cancer that can be detected with Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. Eligible participants will be admitted to the NIH Clinical Center. Participants will get the study drug in an intravenous infusion. They will get 4 doses, given about 8 weeks apart. Between 4 and 24 hours after each study drug dose, participants will have scans taken. They will lie on their back on a scanner table. Participants will have vital signs taken. They will give blood and urine samples. During the study, participants will have other scans taken. Some scans will use a radioactive tracer. Participants will complete quality of life questionnaires. Participants will be contacted by phone 1-3 days after they leave the Clinical Center. They will then be followed every 3 to 6 months for 3 years or until their disease gets worse.

Gene Modified Immune Cells After Conditioning Regimen for the Treatment of Stage IIIC or IV Melanoma or Metastatic Solid Tumors

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of modified immune cells (IL13Ralpha2 CAR T cells) after a chemotherapy conditioning regimen for the treatment of patients with stage IIIC or IV melanoma or solid tumors that have spread to other places in the body (metastatic). The study agent is called IL13Ralpha2 CAR T cells. T cells are a special type of white blood cell (immune cells) that have the ability to kill tumor cells. The T cells are obtained from the patient's own blood, grown in a laboratory, and modified by adding the IL13Ralpha2 CAR gene. The IL13Ralpha2 CAR gene is inserted into T cells with a virus called a lentivirus. The lentivirus allows cells to make the IL13Ralpha2 CAR protein. This CAR has been designed to bind to a protein on the surface of tumor cells called IL13Ralpha2. This study is being done to determine the dose at which the gene-modified immune cells are safe, how long the cells stay in the body, and if the cells are able to attack the cancer.

Study of Axitinib (AG-013736) With Evaluation of the VEGF-pathway in Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma

Primary Objective: To determine the response rate (RR) of metastatic or locally advanced pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma to axitinib administered daily. Secondary Objectives: * Determine the progression-free survival. * In an exploratory manner examine the extent of activation of the VEGFR pathway in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma using a semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry assay and examine the relationship with response to therapy. * Perform pharmacogenomics analyses of drug metabolism and transport proteins through germline DNA examination.

LAnreotide in Metastatic Pheochromocytoma / PARAganglioma (LAMPARA)

The objectives of this study are: * To assess the efficacy of lanreotide given every 4 weeks in participants with advanced or metastatic paraganglioma/ pheochromocytoma. * To assess the toxicity and safety of lanreotide in participants with advanced or metastatic paraganglioma/ pheochromocytoma. * To document the effects of lanreotide on markers of biochemical activity in participants with advanced or metastatic paraganglioma/ pheochromocytoma. Primary endpoints: • Assess efficacy by estimating the tumor growth rate while a patient is enrolled on study and comparing the growth rates on lanreotide to the pre-enrolment growth rate. Secondary endpoints include measurement of: * Overall survival (OS) * Progression-free survival (PFS) * Overall response rate (ORR) according to RECIST defined as partial response (PR) + complete response (CR) * Magnitude of reduction in levels of 24-hour urinary metanephrines, catecholamines and magnitude of reduction in serum chromogranin A, evaluated every two months while enrolled on study.

In Vivo PARP-1 Expression With 18F-FluorThanatrace PET/CT in Patients With Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

This study will enroll up to 30 evaluable patients with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma who are undergoing surgical or systemic treatment. A pre-treatment 18F-FluorThanatrace (\[18F\]FTT) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan will be done prior to surgery or systemic therapy. PET/CT imaging will be used to evaluate PARP-1 expression in sites of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma using the investigational radiotracer \[18F\]FTT. This is an observational study in that \[18F\]FTT PET/CT will not be used to direct treatment decisions. While patients and referring physicians will not be blinded to the \[18F\]FTT PET/CT results, treatment decisions will be made by the treating physicians based upon clinical criteria.

Study to Evaluate Safety and Dosimetry of Lutathera in Adolescent Patients With GEP-NETs and PPGLs

This is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm study to evaluate the safety and dosimetry of Lutathera in adolescent patients 12 to \<18 years old with somatostatin receptor positive GEP-NETs and PPGLs. The study will enroll at least 8 patients in the GEP-NET cohort and as many adolescents with PPGL as possible in the exploratory PPGL cohort.

Institutional Registry of Rare Diseases

The goal of this observational study is to create a single macro registry system with data collection on common clinical features, grouping the different rare diseases (RD). Moreover, the specific goals are to generate an alert system for possible cases of RD with data from the electronic medical record, to describe the occurrence of RD in the evaluated population, to characterize the population, to describe patterns of diagnosis and treatment of RD present at the time, and to explore patient-reported outcomes.

Targeted Alpha-Particle Therapy for Advanced Somatostatin Receptor Type 2 (SSTR2) Positive Neuroendocrine Tumors

This study is Phase I/IIa First-in-Human Study of \[212Pb\]VMT-α-NET Targeted Alpha-Particle Therapy for Advanced SSTR2 Positive Neuroendocrine Tumors

68-Ga DOTATATE PET/MRI in the Diagnosis and Management of Somatostatin Receptor Positive CNS Tumors.

The study population consists of patients who undergo resection for somatostatin receptor-positive (SSTR-positive) CNS tumors, focusing on meningioma, and including esthesioneuroblastoma, hemangioblastoma, medulloblastoma, paraganglioma, pituitary adenoma, and SSTR-positive systemic cancers metastatic to the brain, such as small cell carcinoma of the lung. The study indication is to determine the diagnostic utility of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/MRI in the diagnosis and management of patients with SSTR-positive CNS tumors, specifically whether 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/MRI demonstrates utility distinguishing between tumor recurrence and post-treatment change. To date, the utility of Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/MRI in meningioma has not been explored. Investigators have over the past 3 months been able to accrue the largest case series of presently 12 patients in whom Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/MRI demonstrated utility in the assessment of meningioma, including assessment for postsurgical/postradiation recurrence, detection of additional lesions not visualized on MRI alone, and evaluation of osseous invasion. Based on this initial experience, investigators intend to study the impact of Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/MRI in the assessment of the extent of residual tumor in patients status post meningioma resection, specifically in patients in whom tumor location limits resectability, patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade II/III disease, and patients with history of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) who develop postradiation change.

Testing the Combination of Anti-Cancer Drugs Talazoparib and Temozolomide in Patients With Advanced Stage Rare Cancers, RARE 2 Trial

This phase II trial tests whether combination of talazoparib and temozolomide works to shrink tumors in patients with rare cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Talazoparib is an inhibitor of poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP), an enzyme that helps repair deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when it becomes damaged. Blocking PARP may help keep cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. Temozolomide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It damages the cell's DNA and may kill cancer cells. Giving talazoparib in combination with temozolomide may help shrink advanced rare cancers or stop them from growing.

Genetic Analysis of Pheochromocytomas, Paragangliomas and Associated Conditions

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are neural crest-derived tumors of the nervous system that are often inherited and genetically heterogeneous. Genetic screening is recommended for patients and their relatives, and can guide clinical decisions. However, a mutation is not found in all cases. The aims of this proposal are to: 1) to map gene(s) involved in pheochromocytoma, and 2) identify genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma of various genetic origins.

Clinical Application of Somatostatin Receptor and Norepinephrine Transporter Targeted Imaging for Diagnosis and Staging of Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of somatostatin receptor and norepinephrine transporter targeted imaging (including 18F-MFBG, 123I-MIBG, 131I-MIBG, 68Ga-DOTA-NOC, 68Ga-DOTA-TATE, 68Ga-DOTA-TOC, and other radiolabeled somatostatin analogues) in the diagnosis and staging of neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma patients aged 1-70 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can molecular targeted imaging using various norepinephrine transporter tracers (18F-MFBG, 123I/131I-MIBG) and somatostatin receptor tracers (68Ga-DOTA-peptides series) accurately detect primary tumors and metastatic lesions in neuroblastoma/pheochromocytoma patients? What is the comparative diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy) of different molecular imaging techniques compared to histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard? Researchers will compare the imaging findings from multiple tracer types with surgical pathology results to assess diagnostic accuracy and clinical staging precision. Participants will: * Undergo screening assessments including medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests * Receive intravenous injection of selected tracers (18F-MFBG, 68Ga-DOTA-NOC/TATE, or other appropriate agents) at standardized doses followed by PET-CT/MRI imaging at optimal time points * Undergo histopathological examination within 2 months post-imaging * Complete safety follow-up for 6 months to monitor for any adverse reactions to the imaging agents

Using the EHR to Advance Genomic Medicine Across a Diverse Health System

Given the expansion of indications for genetic testing and our understanding of conditions for which the results change medical management, it is imperative to consider novel ways to deliver care beyond the traditional genetic counseling visit, which are both amenable to large-scale implementation and sustainable. The investigators propose an entirely new approach for the implementation of genomic medicine, supported by the leadership of Penn Medicine, investigating the use of non-geneticist clinician and patient nudges in the delivery of genomic medicine through a pragmatic randomized clinical trial, addressing NHGRI priorities. Our application is highly conceptually and technically innovative, building upon expertise and infrastructure already in place. Innovative qualities of our proposal include: 1) Cutting edge EHR infrastructure already built to support genomic medicine (e.g., partnering with multiple commercial genetic testing laboratories for direct test ordering and results reporting in the EHR); 2) Automated EHR-based direct ordering or referring by specialist clinicians (i.e., use of replicable modules that enable specialist clinicians to order genetic testing through Epic Smartsets, including all needed components, such as populated gene lists, smartphrases, genetic testing, informational websites and acknowledgement e-forms for patient signature); 3) EHR algorithms for accurate patient identification (i.e., electronic phenotype algorithms to identify eligible patients, none of which currently have phenotype algorithms present in PheKB; 4) Behavioral economics-informed implementation science methods: This trial will be the first to evaluate implementation strategies informed by behavioral economics, directed at clinicians and/or patients, for increasing the use of genetic testing; further it will be the first study in this area to test two forms of defaults as a potential local adaptation to facilitate implementation (ordering vs. referring); and 5) Dissemination: In addition to standard dissemination modalities,PheKB95, GitHub and Epic Community Library, the investigators propose to disseminate via AnVIL (NHGRI's Genomic Data Science Analysis, Visualization, and Informatics Lab-Space). Our results will represent an entirely new paradigm for the provision of genomic medicine for patients in whom the results of genetic testing change medical management.

Prognostic's Factors of Head and Neck Paragangliomas Evolution

Cervical paragangliomas (HNPG) are rare tumors (0.6% of head and neck tumors) arising from chromaffin tissue, of cervical paraganglia (PGL). The most common locations are carotid body (60% of cases), jugulo-tympanic region and vagal body. More than 30% are proved to occur in a context of genetic predisposition, more often in young people, and genetic screening is recommended in all patients. Multifocal tumors represent 12% of all HNPG and until 50% of familial forms. Most of HNPG are non-secreting, benign and slow growing tumors, but up to 30% present complications of local growth, and up to 10% can develop distant metastasis that define malignancy since there is no pathological marker. Historically, surgical treatment was the standard of care but represents nowadays around 50% of the treatment, mostly due to the identification of high morbidity rates. The rate of recurrence is probably around 10% at 5 years. Radiotherapy and active follow-up represent the main therapeutic alternatives. The standard of care is classically surgical but may expose to important sequelae leading to a review of its primary indication. Indeed, cranial nerve palsies (VII, IX, X, XI and XII) may complicate up to 20% of carotid PGL surgeries and up to 95% of vagal PGL surgeries. They are leading to significant functional sequelae, sometimes requiring recourse to a gastrostomy (4/79 patients operated on in a retrospective cohort). First bite syndrome, Claude Bernard Horner syndrome, baroreceptor failure, xerostomia, and ischemic events complicate 5.8%, 4.9%, 1.9%, 1%, and 1% of surgeries respectively. In a local retrospective study conducted by the Hospices Civils de Lyon on 34 operated cervical PGL, the overall complication rate reached 62%. These complications depend mainly on the location tumor and its size. Control rate of irradiated HNPG at 5 years from retrospective series seems to be around 90%. They seems also to have a possible better progression-free survival at 15 years than surgery. The tolerance is correct, the risk of induced malignancy is estimed at 1/1000 to 1/2000. Without treatment, 44% of cervical PGL show a significant progression (median follow-up 51 months). Progression is estimated at 0.41 mm/year for jugulo-tympanic PGL and 1.6 mm/year for vagal and carotid PGL. Currently, there is no clear and robust consensus regarding the follow-up of cervical PGL and the indications for different therapeutic strategies. Data available are represented by retrospective studies only, mostly small in size, with heterogeneous and often inadequate follow-up compared to slow tumor growth. Thus, this prospective cohort study with a standardized long-term follow-up will allow to characterize the management modalities and the evolution of this population.

DOTATOC PET/CT for Imaging NET Patients

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are generally slow growing, but some can be aggressive and resistant to treatment. Compared to healthy cells, the surface of these tumor cells has a greater number of special molecules called somatostatin receptors (SSTR). Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and conventional imaging are used to detect NETs. This study proposes 68Gallium(68Ga)-DOTATOC positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is superior to current imaging techniques. The goal is to evaluate the safety and sensitivity of 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT at detecting NETs and other tumors with over-expression of somatostatin receptors.

The Effect and Safety of Omitting Preoperative Alpha-adrenergic Blockade for Normotensive Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors originating from catecholamine producing chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal paraganglia. The overall age-standardized incidence rate is 0.18 per 100,000 person-years in Korea. The definitive treatment of PPGL is surgical excision of tumor. However, surgery is associated with a high risk of perioperative hemodynamic instability (HI). To avoid perioperative HI in patients diagnosed with PPGL, preoperative management including routine use of alpha blockade and volume expansion has been advocated by several guidelines. While unstable hypertension and tachycardia should be controlled in patients with PPGL, there is controversial that all patients diagnosed with PPGL should undergo preoperative pharmacological treatment, especially alpha blockade. The most important risk of preoperative alpha blockade use is perioperative hypotension. A recent study reported that patients diagnosed with PPGL postoperatively may have no further higher risk of intraoperative hypertension than those diagnosed preoperatively despite insufficient preoperatively management of PPGL. Therefore, it is a very important to study the relationship between HI and preoperative alpha blockade in normotensive patients diagnosed with PPGL. The aim this study is to analyze the effect and safety of omitting preoperative alpha-adrenergic blockade for normotensive pheochromocytoma through a prospective randomized controlled trial. The patients is divided into two groups. The patients in control group take a phenoxybenzamine at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. The patients in case group do not take a phenoxybenzamine. Primary outcome is to evaluate the percentage of time during surgery with systolic blood pressure more than 160mmHg or average blood pressure less than 60mmHg. And secondary outcomes are to evaluate hemodynamic instability in preoperative ward and postoperative ward.

Hereditary Pheochromocytoma Assessment of Tumour Immunologies

In this study, the investigators are examining the role of the immune system in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. The investigators aim to examine the differences in the immune system between people who have these tumors with and without a hereditary predisposition. The investigators also want to see how the immune system changes during the development of the tumor in people with a hereditary predisposition. Finally, the investigators will compare the data with a control group of people without these tumors. Ultimately, the investigators hope that the results will contribute to the discovery of new immune system-targeted medications for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

Study in Children and Adolescents of 177Lu-DOTATATE (Lutathera®) Combined with the PARP Inhibitor Olaparib for the Treatment of Recurrent or Relapsed Solid Tumours Expressing Somatostatin Receptor (SSTR) (LuPARPed).

Study in children and adolescents of 177Lu DOTATATE (Lutathera®) combined with the PARP inhibitor olaparib for treatment of recurrent or relapsed solid tumours expressing somatostatin receptors (SSTR) (LuPARPed)

"Receptor Radionuclide Therapy With 177Lu-DOTATOC

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) may be recommended in G1- G2 GEP-NET patients with disease progression on somatostatine analogues therapy (LUTATHERA®). However, there are several diseases, including neuroendocrine neoplasia not originating from the digestive tract, for which the efficacy of PRRT has already been demonstrated, but which are not currently within the indications of LUTATHERA and therefore cannot benefit from it (i.e. bronchopulmonary, ovarian, renal NETs and neuroendocrine carcinomas). Moreover, the role of PRRT is also accepted in Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs), Meningiomas, but also as a salvage therapy in pre-treated NET pts, and other SSTR-positive malignancies (Lymphomas, Gliomas…). Least explored among radiopharmaceuticals for SSTR-positive tumors is 177Lu-DOTATOC. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of lutetium (177Lu) edotreotide (Lu-Dotatoc) on all the above-mentioned diseases that could benefit from receptor radionuclide therapy. We believe that this study, which will involve only patients outside the indication of LUTATHERA, will expand the current knowledge of radionuclide receptor therapy with 177Lu- DOTATOC, particularly with regard to objective response and safety parameters, and may consolidate its in the management of these diseases.

Genetic Bases of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Mexican Patients

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of lesions derived from cells with the ability to produce hormones that may arise from multiple different organs. Their clinical behavior is quite variable, encompassing both benign lesions and aggressive tumors that invade surrounding and/or distant structures. NENs may also cause serious morbidity due to hormone oversecretion. NENs are among the most frequently inherited human tumors, presenting either isolated or as part of syndromes in which a single patient or family develops multiple tumors. There are also non-inherited changes in the genetic information of the tumor cells that are potential targets for treatment. Both inherited and non-inherited DNA defects can be identified using modern routine genetic tests which, unfortunately, are not widely available in Mexico. This project seeks to uncover the genetic defects causing NENs in a large cohort of Mexican patients, using three different methods for genetic testing. Adult individuals with various types of NENs from two reference hospitals in Mexico City will be invited to participate. After completing informed consent, blood and, if possible, tissue samples will be obtained from all participants. Clinical details, laboratory results, imaging studies, and histopathological data at disease presentation will be retrieved. An initial screening will be performed by analyzing changes in the sequence of multiple genes that have been associated with the occurrence of NENs. In cases with negative screening, a specific method to assess changes in the number of copies of the same genes will also be employed. Finally, sequences of all DNA regions encoding information required to make proteins will be obtained in selected cases. Analyses will be carried out in blood and, if available, also in tumor tissue samples from study participants. Screening of additional family members will be offered. This project will accurately describe the repertoire of specific defects causing NENs in the study population, and will likely uncover and characterize novel genetic associations. The results will contribute for a better understanding of the alterations within and outside known driver genes that shape syndromic presentations, tumor behaviors, and inheritance patterns in individuals with NENs. These data will contribute to improve the information on the molecular bases of NENs, including alterations that can be used as therapeutic targets.

The Incidence and Outcomes of Metabolically Active Brown Adipose Tissue (aBAT) in Patients With Pheochromocytoma or Paraganglioma (PPGLs)

White adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) form the main adipose tissue subtypes in humans and several animals. BAT, owing to its unique metabolic function, has been of increased focus and interest in metabolic research (1). BAT forms the major organ of non-shivering thermogenesis in the body, and is dependent on the large concentration of mitochondria and increased uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) activity present in this type of tissue (2). There are numerous triggers for the metabolic activation of BAT including cold temperature, low body mass index (BMI), adrenergic agonists, and elevated concentration of thyroid hormones (3). BAT is found more abundantly in fetuses and infants, with significant regression into adulthood. The main areas where BAT can be found are the neck, mediastinum, axilla, retroperitoneum, and abdominal wall (4). Clinical research suggests that activation and thermogenesis in BAT are mediated by noradrenaline release from the sympathetic nervous system (5). With the increasing use of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) imaging, there has been an increased detection rate of activated brown adipose tissue (aBAT); this may affect diagnoses and lead to false-positive reporting (6). Phaeochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PPGLs) are chromaffin-cell-derived endocrine tumors that emerge from the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal ganglia. High FDG accumulation has been commonly noted in aBAT in patients with catecholamine-producing tumours, with subsequent resolution of these findings after resection of the tumour (7). This finding is likely related to the increased glucose transport related to noradrenaline excess (4). BAT has traditionally been considered to mainly express β3-adrenoreceptors; however, in vitro studies have indicated that activated β2-adrenoreceptors may be the main driving force behind thermogenesis (8). Studies reviewing PPGLs have shown an aBAT detection rate of 7.8% to 42.8% on FDG-PET imaging, correlating with elevated catecholamine levels but without clear correlation to germline mutations (9-12). In one study, this imaging finding was associated with a statistically significant reduction in overall survival (12). Standardisation for the 'standardised uptake value' (SUV) cut-offs for aBAT on FDG-PET are lacking, but these are often reported between 1.0 and 2.0 (13); in previous studies of PPGL, a cut-off value of \>1.5 has been employed (10, 12). Research on the clinical implications of aBAT in patients with PPGL remains scarce. The main objectives of this study were to gain further insights into BAT activation rates in patients with PPGLs and how this may relate to patient demographics, biochemistry, radiological features, mutational status, and outcomes. The main hypotheses were that aBAT rates would be significantly linked to the severity of catecholamine excess and could be considered a poor prognostic feature.

18F-MFBG PET/CT in the Evaluation of Neural Crest Tumor

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance and tumor burden of 18F-metafluorobenzylguanidine (18F-MFBG) positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with neuroendocrine tumors mainly in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) and neuroblastoma (NB).