Clinical trial Recruiting at 66 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 12 to 100

[177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE plus octreotide LAR for newly diagnosed SSTR‑positive advanced GEP‑NET

Official title: A Phase III Multi-center, Randomized, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE in Patients Newly Diagnosed With Grade 1 and Grade 2 (Ki-67 <10%) Advanced GEP-NET With High Disease Burden (NETTER-3)

Run by Novartis · NCT06784752 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial will test whether adding [177Lu]Lu‑DOTA‑TATE to octreotide LAR helps people newly diagnosed with somatostatin receptor–positive, well‑differentiated (G1/G2, Ki‑67 <10%) advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who have a high disease burden.

More Somatostatin Receptor Positive trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages12 Years to 100 Years
SexAll
Enrollment240 (estimated)
SponsorNovartis
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations67 sites (Scottsdale, Arizona and 66 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 30, 2025
Main results expectedDecember 8, 2028
Study endsJanuary 23, 2034
Registry record updatedSeptember 11, 2026
Trial IDNCT06784752 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults with newly diagnosed, SSTR‑positive, well‑differentiated (G1/G2, Ki‑67 <10%) unresectable or metastatic GEP‑NET diagnosed within 6 months who have a high disease burden as judged by the investigator.

Probably not a fit

Patients unlikely to benefit include those with SSTR‑negative disease, higher‑grade (G3) tumors or Ki‑67 ≥10%, resectable disease, or contraindications to radionuclide therapy or somatostatin analogues.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized Phase 3 trial compares [177Lu]Lu‑DOTA‑TATE plus octreotide LAR versus octreotide LAR alone in patients with newly diagnosed, SSTR‑positive, well‑differentiated (G1/G2, Ki‑67 <10%) advanced GEP‑NET and high disease burden. The study includes screening, a treatment phase with the assigned regimen, and a follow‑up phase to monitor safety and disease outcomes. Key eligibility requires histologically confirmed unresectable or metastatic GEP‑NET diagnosed within 6 months, demonstrated SSTR positivity, and investigator‑determined high disease burden. Primary and secondary endpoints focus on efficacy (tumor control/progression) and safety measures to see if adding radioligand therapy improves outcomes compared with octreotide alone.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adding [177Lu]Lu‑DOTA‑TATE could improve tumor control, delay progression, and extend symptom relief compared with octreotide LAR alone.

How similar studies have gone: Prior randomized trials of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (notably NETTER‑1) showed meaningful benefit in midgut NETs, so this approach builds on proven PRRT effectiveness though its use as first‑line therapy in high‑burden GEP‑NET is less established.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Presence of metastasized or locally advanced, unresectable (curative intent), histologically proven, well differentiated Grade 1 or Grade 2 (Ki-67 \<10%) gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (GEP-NET) diagnosed within 6 months prior to screening.
* Participants with high disease burden in the Investigator's opinion. Following criteria should be used as the guiding principle for determining high disease burden:

  * Primary tumor or a metastatic lesion \> 4 cm
  * More than one tumor or metastatic lesions measuring \> 2 cm
  * Elevated alkaline phosphatase \> 2.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN)
  * Presence of bone metastasis
  * Presence of peritoneal metastasis
  * Symptoms due to tumor volume such as pain, fatigue, weight loss, anorexia etc.
  * Symptoms due to hormone excess requiring active management
  * Additionally, participants who, in the Investigator's opinion, have high disease burden due to their disease characteristics not specified above could also be considered eligible.
* Participants ≥ 12 years of age.
* RLI somatostatin receptor (SSTR) uptake on all target lesions (defined by RECIST v1.1 criteria) at least as high as normal liver uptake assessed within 3 months prior to randomization. Any of the RLI modalities as available (some examples are listed below) can be used as per local practice:

  * \[68Ga\]Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT or PET/MRI
  * \[68Ga\]Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/CT or PET/MRI
  * \[64Cu\]Cu-DOTA-TATE PET/CT or PET/MRI
  * Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) (planar and/or SPECT/CT) with \[111In\]In-pentetreotide
  * SRS (planar and/or SPECT/CT) with \[99mTc\]Tc-octreotide.
* Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined by the following laboratory values prior to receiving the first study treatment:

  * White blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 2 x 109/L
  * Platelet count ≥ 75 x 109/L
  * Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 8 g/dL
  * Creatinine clearance \> 40 mL/min calculated by the Cockcroft Gault method
  * Total bilirubin ≤ 3 x ULN
  * Potassium within normal limits. Potassium level of up to 6.0 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) is acceptable at study entry if associated with creatinine clearance within normal limits calculated using Cockcroft-Gault formula. Mild decrease (grade 1) below lower limit of normal (LLN) is acceptable at study entry if considered not clinically significant by Investigator.
* ECOG performance status 0-1.
* Presence of at least 1 measurable site of disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior administration of a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical for GEP-NET at any time prior to randomization in the study.
* Any previous therapy with interferons, mTOR-inhibitors, chemotherapy or other systemic therapies except somatostatin analogues (SSAs) of GEP-NET. If as per Investigator's opinion a participant is candidate for such therapies, such participant must not be enrolled.
* Participant who received more than 4 cycles of prior SSAs (e.g., octreotide long-acting release) are not eligible. In addition, any participant receiving treatment with short-acting octreotide, which cannot be interrupted for 24 h before the administration of \[177Lu\]Lu-DOTA-TATE, or any participant receiving treatment with SSAs, which cannot be interrupted for at least 4 weeks before the administration of \[177Lu\]Lu-DOTA-TATE.
* Documented RECIST v1.1 progression during previous SSA treatments for the current GEP-NET at any time prior to randomization.
* Any previous radioembolization, chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation for GEP-NET.
* Any major surgery within 12 weeks prior to randomization in the study.
* Known brain metastases.
* Participant with known intolerance to CT scans with intravenous (i.v.) contrast due to allergic reaction or renal insufficiency. If such a participant can be imaged with MRI, then the participant would not be excluded.
* Hypersensitivity to any somatostatin analogues, to the Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) active substance or to any of the excipients.
* Active severe urinary incontinence, severe voiding dysfunction, or urinary obstruction requiring an indwelling/condom catheter that, in the judgment of the Investigator, could prevent adhering to radiation safety instructions.

Other protocol-defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria may apply.

Where it's running

  • Mayo Clinic Arizona
    Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
    Recruiting
  • Highlands Oncology Group
    Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers
    Denver, Colorado, United States
    Recruiting
  • Hartford Hospital
    Hartford, Connecticut, United States
    Recruiting
  • Yale New Haven Hospital
    New Haven, Connecticut, United States
    Recruiting
  • Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
    Jacksonville, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
  • AdventHealth
    Orlando, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Piedmont Healthcare
    Atlanta, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Winship Cancer Institute
    Atlanta, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • St Elizabeth Healthcare
    Edgewood, Kentucky, United States
    Recruiting
  • LSU Medical Center
    New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
    Recruiting
  • Henry Ford Hospital
    Detroit, Michigan, United States
    Recruiting
  • Mount Sinai Medical Center
    New York, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • Tennessee Oncology
    Nashville, Tennessee, United States
    Recruiting
  • Texas Oncology
    Dallas, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Virginia Cancer Specialists
    Fairfax, Virginia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Virginia Oncology Associates
    Norfolk, Virginia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Blue Ridge Cancer Center
    Wytheville, Virginia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Northwest Medical Specialties
    Tacoma, Washington, United States
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    London, Ontario, Canada
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Beijing, China
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Beijing, China
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Beijing, China
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Shanghai, China
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Bron, France
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Clichy, France
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Montpellier, France
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Nantes, France
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Pessac, France
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Toulouse, France
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Erlangen, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Essen, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    München, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Budapest, Hungary
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Szeged, Hungary
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Cona, Fe, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Genova, Ge, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Milan, Mi, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Milan, Mi, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Rozzano, Mi, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Pisa, Pi, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Roma, Rm, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Roma, Rm, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Utrecht, Netherlands
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Gdansk, Poland
    Recruiting
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Gliwice, Poland
    Recruiting

+17 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.