STOPNET: A randomised study of cessation of somatostatin analogues after Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Mid-Gut Neuroendocrine tumours

Neuroendocrine tumours commonly originate from the gut and metastasise widely including to the liver, lymph nodes and bones. Originally called “carcinoid tumours”, these low- grade cancers are initially treated with somatostatin analogues (SSA). These analogues treat any carcinoid syndrome and slow tumour growth.

Despite SSA therapy, progression usually develops over time. Upon such progression, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is the next standard therapeutic option and is superior to escalating the SSA dose. After PRRT is initiated, it is unclear if continuing the SSA injections is beneficial. There are reasons to believe it might be necessary to continue SSA, but other reasons to believe they should cease.

STOPNET aims to estimate the feasibility and outcomes ceasing somatostatin analogue (SSA) inpatients with low and moderately differentiated gut neuroendocrine tumours, who have progressed on SSA therapy, and receive Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) thereafter cease.