Long-term hematologic toxicity of 177Lu-octreotate-capecitabine-temozolomide therapy of GEPNET.

Thirty-seven patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs) were treated on a prospective phase II single-center study with 4 cycles of 7.8 GBq 177Lu-octreotate combined with capecitabine and temozolomide chemotherapy (CAPTEM). Each 8-week cycle combined radiopeptide therapy with 14 days of capecitabine (1500 mg/m2) and 5 days of temozolomide (200 mg/m2). The incidence of grade ≥3 hematologic toxicity was analysed. We found that at a median follow-up of 7-years (range 1-10), 6 (16%) patients developed persistent hematologic toxicity (PHT, defined as sustained grade ≥3 hematologic toxicity beyond 36-months follow up) and 3 (8%) developed MDS/AL with a median time-to-event of 46 and 34-months respectively. Estimated cumulative incidence of MDS/AL was 11% (95% CI: 3.45 to 24.01). Development of PHT was the only significant risk factor for secondary (RR, 16; 95% CI: 2.53 to 99.55; p 10% mandates for the long-term monitoring of treated patients. However, time to onset is unpredictable and incidence does not correlate with conventional baseline risk factors. Novel methods are required for stratification of prospective patients based on genetic risk.