Background:
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are abnormal cell growths that begin in the neuroendocrine (hormone-producing) cells which are distributed widely throughout the body. Most NETs over-express somatostatin receptors. For this reason, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with 177Lutetium-DOTA-Tyr³-octreotate (177Lu-DOTATATE) is an effective therapeutic option for NETs. Octreotate is a synthetic analog of somatostatin and will thus attaches to the NETs somatostatin receptors. 177Lu will deliver a high dose to the tumor through electron emissions. 177Lu also emits γ photons which allow for repeated SPECT/CT acquisitions after the administration of 177Lu-DOTATATE. As the bone marrow is an important organ-at-risk for this therapy, we want to investigate to which extend the SPECT/CT images can be used to measure the dose delivered to the bone marrow.
Goal:
The goal of this Master thesis is to investigate to which extend the SPECT/CT images can be used for bone marrow dosimetry in 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy. First the Master student will study the available literature on the subject. Secondly the student will implement a tool for automated bone marrow segmentation on SPECT/CT images. Thirdly he/she will perform the dosimetry of the bone marrow based on the activity measured on SPECT images. Finally, the dosimetry results obtained with SPECT/CT images will be compared to those obtained with blood sample measurements (current gold standard for bone marrow dosimetry).
Promoters:
gwennaelle.marin@bordet.be
bruno.vanderlinden@bordet.be
Olivier Debeir odebeir@ulb.ac.be
Nicolas Pauly Nicolas.Pauly@ulb.be