Pamela L. Kunz, MD, on Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Jul 26, 2022

ASCO News on CapTem chemotherapy trial

Associate Professor Pamela L. Kunz*, MD, of the Yale University School of Medicine, discusses new findings from the ECOG-ACRIN E2211 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01824875): Temozolomide With or Without Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

ASCO News Video

The study showed the longest progression-free survival and highest response rates with temozolomide plus capecitabine reported, to date, for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The presence of a deficiency of MGMT, the drug-resistance gene, was associated with greater odds of an objective response (ASCO Abstract 4004).

As Professor Kunz concludes:

“Capecitabine Temozolomide really should be considered a standard of care, and included in guidelines for patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors . . .

Routine use of MGMT testing is not recommended. However, for patients who really need objective responses, we can consider using MGMT testing”

 She also refers to 2 follow up studies:

“One is the adjuvant use of CapTem following surgery for patients with high-risk pancreatic NETs”

Testing the Use of Chemotherapy After Surgery for High-Risk Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors – ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05040360

“. . .the other is looking at lutetium dotatate radioligand therapy vs capecitabine temozolomide in advanced pancreatic NETs”

Lutetium vs CapTem in advanced NETs – ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05247905

 

Patient Voice: Patricia Novelli

A shared experience of CapTem chemotherapy, including “Top 10 Tips which perhaps may help someone else

Pamela L Kunz* is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology); Director, Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center; Chief, GI Medical Oncology; Vice Chief, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Medical Oncology