Mathematical Modeling of 177Lu-DOTATATE for Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment

Sowwanee Jitsinchayakul, Usa Humphries, Teerapol Saleewong, Kitiwat Khamwan

Abstract

Nowadays, cancer treatment with radiopharmaceuticals is an alternative option for patients who do not respond to treatment with other methods, such as surgical treatment, chemotherapy, or external beam radiotherapy. The ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE is a type of theranostic radiopharmaceutical used to treat neuroendocrine tumor (NETs) patients. This research's objectives were to develop a mathematical model for treating NETS patients with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE and estimate the appropriate parameters of the model to determine the changes of ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE in the patient's body. The ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE can deliver into cancer cells and organs throughout the body, considered two models, Model I and Model II. They have a similar dynamical compartment structure, but the ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE eliminated from the tumor is different between the two models. This research considers the appropriate parameters for each model to find the solution of the system of ordinary differential equations of each model according to the 4th Runge-Kutta method. The results of Model I and II tend to change ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE in tumors and organs according to the results obtained in mice. After a mathematical model for rearing NETs patients with ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE was developed, it will help the physicians to analyze as the guidelines for treating NETs patients, which is more effective.