ASCO ® American Society of Clinical Oncology

Progress in Treating Rare Cancers: ASCO's Advance of the Year

Voice over: Progress in treating rare cancers.

Rotating view of a 3D human figure.

Voice over: Rare cancers occur in fewer than 6 out of 100,000 diagnosed cancers, yet, in the United States, they account for 20% of all cancers diagnosed each year.

Illustration of human figures fades to show the human gastrointestinal system. Locations within the appendix, ascending colon, and small intestine flash and several tumors grow, labeled “Midgut Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)”

Voice over: One rare cancer, midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), affects fewer than 3 per 100,000 people annually. In a recent study, a new radiolabeled therapy, 177Lu-Dotatate, lowered the risk of progression or death by 79% in patients with advanced cancer.

Illustration shows the chemical structure of 177Lu-Dotatate. Labels indicate a radioisotope lutetium 177, which is connected to the synthetic hormone octreotide.

Voice over: 177Lu-Dotatate is a radiolabeled molecule that delivers targeted radiation to tumor cells and is composed of the radioisotope lutetium 177 attached to the synthetic hormone octreotide.

Illustration fades out to show a photo of a hand with an infusion set in place.

After intravenous infusion, the drug binds to receptors on the NET cell, delivering radiation directly to the cancer cell to inhibit tumor growth.

An animated illustration shows the octreotide portion of the 177Lu-Dotatate drug molecule attaching to a receptor in a cancer cell. The center of the radioisotope lutetium 177 flashes, indicating the radiation emitting from the molecule, destroying the cell. The earlier image of the gastrointestinal system appears again. The tumors flash to indicate the drug is working and then shrink and disappear.

Voice over: The FDA approved 177Lu-Dotatate for the treatment of adults with midgut NETs in January 2018. This is one of several remarkable achievements made in treating rare cancers over the past year, prompting ASCO to name “Progress in Treating Rare Cancers” as its 2019 Advance of the Year.

ASCO ® American Society of Clinical Oncology

Progress in Treating Rare Cancers: ASCO's Advance of the Year

asco.org/CCA

Voice over: To learn more, visit asco.org/CCA.