Characteristics and outcomes of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms after peptide receptor radionuclide/chemoradionuclide therapy (PRRT/PRCRT) for metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasia: a single-institution series

Abstract

Purpose: Peptide receptor radionuclide/chemoradionuclide therapy (PRRT/PRCRT) is an effective therapy for metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN), but therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) remain of concern. The study reviewed the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients who developed t-MN.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients diagnosed with t-MN by 2016 WHO classification, from a cohort of 521 patients who received PRRT/PRCRT over a 12-year period. Molecular next-generation sequencing using an in-house 26-gene panel was performed.

Results: Twenty-five of 521 (4.8%) patients were diagnosed with t-MN, including six acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and 19 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The median time from first cycle PRRT/PRCRT to diagnosis of t-MN was 26 months (range 4-91). Twenty-two of 25 (88%) patients had grade 1-2 pancreatic or small bowel NEN with moderate metastatic liver burden. Six patients (24%) had prior chemotherapy. Median number of PRRT cycles = 5 (22/25 (88%) with concomitant radiosensitising chemotherapy). All 25 patients achieved disease stabilisation (68%) or partial response (32%) on RECIST 1.1 at 3 months post-PRRT. At t-MN diagnosis, all patients presented with thrombocytopenia (median nadir 33 × 10⁹/L, range 3-75) and 17 (68%) remained NEN progression-free. Marrow genetic analysis revealed unfavourable karyotype in 16/25 (66%) patients with tumour protein 53 (TP53) mutation in nine (36%). Azacitidine therapy was utilised in ten eligible patients, while four received induction chemotherapy for AML. The median overall survival from first PRRT was 62 months (19-94), but from t-MN diagnosis was only 13 months (1-56), with death due primarily to haematological disease progression.

Conclusions: The diagnosis of t-MN after PRRT/PRCRT is an infrequent but serious complication with poor overall survival. Most patients present with thrombocytopenia; unfavourable genetic mutations have a poor response to t-MN treatment. Prospective data are needed to explore potential pre-existing genetic factors and predictive biomarkers to minimise the risk of t-MN.

Keywords: 177Lu-DOTATATE; Acute myeloid leukaemia; Myelodysplasia; Neuroendocrine neoplasm; Pepetide receptor radionuclide therapy; Therapy-related myeloid neoplasm.