Pituitary dysfunction in childhood after [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE therapy

Karen Van Wessel; Bart De Keizer; Miranda P. Dierselhuis; Max M. Van Noesel; Hanneke M. Van Santen

doi:10.1515/jpem-2025-0426

Pituitary dysfunction in childhood after [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE therapy

Karen Van Wessel
, Bart De Keizer
, Miranda P. Dierselhuis
, Max M. Van Noesel
, Hanneke M. Van Santen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Treatment for neuroblastoma with chemotherapy and [ 131I]MIBG can induce endocrine adverse effects, including thyroid disorders, gonadal insufficiency or short stature. Neuroblastoma can also be targeted at the somatostatin receptor, using [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Thus far no endocrine effects have been reported after [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE treatment in children.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a first case of pituitary dysfunction, reflected as growth hormone deficiency and central hypothyroidism, following treatment with [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE for refractory neuroblastoma.

CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the GH and TSH deficiency in this case are caused by pituitary damage through binding of [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE to the somatostatin receptors in the pituitary gland. If [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in the future becomes a more upfront treatment we strongly underline screening on pituitary dysfunction after exposure to [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in childhood.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2025-0426
Publication status	Published - 2026

Keywords

TSH deficiency
[Lu]Lu-DOTATATE
child
growth hormone deficiency
neuroblastoma
pituitary function

Access to Document

10.1515/jpem-2025-0426

Cite this

@article{74eb59eaada84ca583ecdabe82868145,

title = "Pituitary dysfunction in childhood after [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE therapy",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: Treatment for neuroblastoma with chemotherapy and [ 131I]MIBG can induce endocrine adverse effects, including thyroid disorders, gonadal insufficiency or short stature. Neuroblastoma can also be targeted at the somatostatin receptor, using [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Thus far no endocrine effects have been reported after [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE treatment in children. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a first case of pituitary dysfunction, reflected as growth hormone deficiency and central hypothyroidism, following treatment with [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE for refractory neuroblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the GH and TSH deficiency in this case are caused by pituitary damage through binding of [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE to the somatostatin receptors in the pituitary gland. If [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in the future becomes a more upfront treatment we strongly underline screening on pituitary dysfunction after exposure to [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in childhood. ",

keywords = "TSH deficiency, [Lu]Lu-DOTATATE, child, growth hormone deficiency, neuroblastoma, pituitary function",

author = "\{Van Wessel\}, Karen and \{De Keizer\}, Bart and Dierselhuis, \{Miranda P.\} and \{Van Noesel\}, \{Max M.\} and \{Van Santen\}, \{Hanneke M.\}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2026 the author(s), published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston.",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1515/jpem-2025-0426",

language = "English",

journal = "Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism",

issn = "0334-018X",

publisher = "Walter de Gruyter GmbH",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pituitary dysfunction in childhood after [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE therapy

AU - Van Wessel, Karen

AU - De Keizer, Bart

AU - Dierselhuis, Miranda P.

AU - Van Noesel, Max M.

AU - Van Santen, Hanneke M.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - OBJECTIVES: Treatment for neuroblastoma with chemotherapy and [ 131I]MIBG can induce endocrine adverse effects, including thyroid disorders, gonadal insufficiency or short stature. Neuroblastoma can also be targeted at the somatostatin receptor, using [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Thus far no endocrine effects have been reported after [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE treatment in children. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a first case of pituitary dysfunction, reflected as growth hormone deficiency and central hypothyroidism, following treatment with [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE for refractory neuroblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the GH and TSH deficiency in this case are caused by pituitary damage through binding of [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE to the somatostatin receptors in the pituitary gland. If [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in the future becomes a more upfront treatment we strongly underline screening on pituitary dysfunction after exposure to [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in childhood.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Treatment for neuroblastoma with chemotherapy and [ 131I]MIBG can induce endocrine adverse effects, including thyroid disorders, gonadal insufficiency or short stature. Neuroblastoma can also be targeted at the somatostatin receptor, using [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Thus far no endocrine effects have been reported after [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE treatment in children. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a first case of pituitary dysfunction, reflected as growth hormone deficiency and central hypothyroidism, following treatment with [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE for refractory neuroblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the GH and TSH deficiency in this case are caused by pituitary damage through binding of [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE to the somatostatin receptors in the pituitary gland. If [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in the future becomes a more upfront treatment we strongly underline screening on pituitary dysfunction after exposure to [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in childhood.

KW - TSH deficiency

KW - [Lu]Lu-DOTATATE

KW - child

KW - growth hormone deficiency

KW - neuroblastoma

KW - pituitary function

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