TY - JOUR T1 - Favorable Response of Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma to Targeted <sup>177</sup>Lu-DOTATATE Therapy: Will PRRT Evolve to Become an Important Approach in Receptor-Positive Cases? JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO - J. Nucl. Med. Technol. SP - 85 LP - 87 DO - 10.2967/jnmt.115.163527 VL - 44 IS - 2 AU - Sandip Basu AU - Rohit Ranade Y1 - 2016/06/01 UR - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/2/85.abstract N2 - This report illustrates an excellent partial response of Merkel cell carcinoma with multiple bilobar hepatic metastases to a single cycle of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 177Lu-DOTATATE. This response, coupled with minimal side effects, warrants consideration of this therapy early in the disease course (rather than at an advanced stage after failure of other therapies) if the metastatic lesions exhibit adequate tracer avidity on somatostatin receptor–based imaging. Our patient showed progression of systemic disease after having undergone a second surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy to the head and neck, as well as chemotherapy, and hence was considered a candidate for PRRT. In a pretreatment study, the metastatic lesions demonstrated avidity to both somatostatin receptors and 18F-FDG. Three months after the first cycle of treatment, when the patient was being evaluated for a second cycle, both imaging parameters showed evidence of a partial response that included nearly complete resolution of the two previously seen lesions. In view of the relatively good tolerability, minimal side effects, and targeted nature of the treatment, PRRT may evolve to become the first-line therapy for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma and should be examined further in a larger number of patients. ER -