Mikael Elvborn: Optimizing efficacy of targeted cancer therapy
Neuroendocrine tumors frequently spread throughout the body. These can be addressed with targeted radioactive drugs, delivering localized radiotherapy. Mikael Elvborn’s thesis suggests that dividing one treatment course of 177Lu-octreotate into multiple sessions could potentially yield greater benefits.
MIKAEL ELVBORN
Dissertation Defense: December 15, 2023 (click for more info)
Doctoral thesis: lmprovement of 177Lu-octreotate treatment of small-intestine neuroendocrine tumors by hyperfractionation
Research Area: Medical Radiation Sciences
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences
What is the background to your thesis?
“Neuroendocrine tumors are often metastatic upon diagnosis, making surgical cure difficult. There is a radioactive, targeted treatment that extends life and enhances quality of life, although rarely resulting in a cure,” says Mikael Elvborn, a medical physicist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
In brief, what is your research about?
“The aim has been to preclinically explore how to enhance the effectiveness of the radioactive drug 177Lu-octreotate in neuroendocrine tumors of the small bowel. This involves breaking down a treatment course into multiple sessions, known as hyperfractionation.”
Increased tumor reduction
What are the most important findings in the thesis?
“We have observed a more significant reduction in tumor size with hyperfractionation, along with a prolonged period before regrowth compared to a single dose. Additionally, we noticed higher radioactive drug uptake in tumors with hyperfractionation, relative to other body organs,” says Mikael Elvborn, adding:
“There was an increase in uptake in healthy tissues too, except for the kidneys, a critical organ in these treatments, which showed a slight decrease in uptake.”
“Should be tested clinically”
What practical implications may your research results provide?
“These studies indicate that hyperfractionation using 177Lu-octreotate shows promise compared with single administration and should be tested clinically.”
What has been enjoyable about the PhD project?
“I like working work across disciplines with people from diverse backgrounds and professions. It helps us solve problems in different ways and brings in a lot of different ideas.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg