Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · World J Nucl Med
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807726
Original Article

Considerations for Establishing Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy: A Nationally Coordinated, Collaborative, and Equitable Service for New Zealand

Rachelle Steyn
1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Andrew Henderson
2   Mercy Radiology, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Karin Wells
1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Trish Mead
1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Yasmin Rennie
1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Avril Hull
3   Department of Medical Oncology, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
4   Neuroendocrine Cancer New Zealand, Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Liana Meredith
3   Department of Medical Oncology, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Michelle Sullivan
4   Neuroendocrine Cancer New Zealand, Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Saskia Simmers
5   Department of Oncology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Jenny Davidson
1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Tame Hauraki
3   Department of Medical Oncology, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Dragan Damianovich
3   Department of Medical Oncology, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Veronica Boyle
3   Department of Medical Oncology, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
6   School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Ben Lawrence
3   Department of Medical Oncology, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
6   School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Inspired by international frameworks, New Zealand established a nationally coordinated peptide receptor radionuclide therapy service. This article reflects on the key steps involved in building the service, including the formation of a national neuroendocrine tumor (NET) multidisciplinary meeting, the role of patient advocacy, and the integration of local research. The successful creation of the service, despite significant challenges, demonstrates the value of collaboration between clinicians, government, universities, and patient groups in achieving equitable, high-quality care.

Keywords

New Zealand - NET - PRRT - implementation - multidisciplinary - health equity

Note

The two clinical audits described in this manuscript were exempt from institutional ethics approval, as clinical audits do not require ethics approval under the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Health and Disability Ethics Committees (HDECs) in New Zealand.


Informed Consent

Permission from the family of the owner has been obtained in writing to publish [Fig. 2A] and [B].


Authors' Contributions

R.S.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, data analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and review (first author).


A.H.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, data analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and review (first author).


B.L.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, data analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and review (last author and guarantor).


K.W.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, data acquisition and data analysis, and manuscript review.


T.M.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, and manuscript review.


Y.R.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, and manuscript review.


A.H.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, and manuscript review.


L.M.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, and manuscript review.


M.S.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, and manuscript review.


S.S.: Data acquisition and data analysis.


J.D.: Concept design and definition of intellectual content.


T.H.: Definition of intellectual content.


V.B.: Concept design, definition of intellectual content, and manuscript review.


D.D.: Concept design and definition of intellectual content.




Publication History

Article published online:
01 May 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Health spending indicators [Internet]. Accessed December 7, 2024 at: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/health-spending.html
  • 2 Mills V, Keene L, Roberts J, Wild H. The cost of everything and the value of nothing: New Zealand's under-investment in health. N Z Med J 2024; 137 (1601): 9-13
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 ENETS. Centers of Excellence (CoE) [Internet]. Accessed December 7, 2024 at: https://enets.org
  • 4 Strosberg JR, Chasen B, Wolin EM. et al. NETTER-1 phase III: Progression-free survival, radiographic response, and preliminary overall survival results in patients with midgut neuroendocrine tumors treated with 177-Lu-Dotatate. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2016; 34 (04) 194
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Zandee WT, Merola E, Poczkaj K. et al. Evaluation of multidisciplinary team decisions in neuroendocrine neoplasms: Impact of expert centres. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2022; 31 (06) e13639
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Parker K, Coats E, Woodhouse B, Knowlton N, Schiedel O, Carroll R. The NETwork! registry: preliminary data suggests increasing incidence in a national study of neuroendocrine cancer in New Zealand (NZ). Presentation at Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group, Brisbane; 2017
  • 7 Dasari A, Shen C, Halperin D. et al. Trends in the incidence, prevalence, and survival outcomes in patients with neuroendocrine tumors in the United States. JAMA Oncol 2017; 3 (10) 1335-1342
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Krenning EP, Kwekkeboom DJ, Bakker WH. et al. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with [111In-DTPA-D-Phe1]- and [123I-Tyr3]-octreotide: the Rotterdam experience with more than 1000 patients. Eur J Nucl Med 1993; 20 (08) 716-731
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Ministry of Health New Zealand. Code of Practice for Nuclear Medicine: ORS C2 [Internet]. Accessed December 7, 2024 at: https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/c2_c.pdf
  • 10 New Zealand Government. Health and Safety at Work Act 2016 [Internet]. Accessed December 7, 2024 at: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2016/0006/latest/DLM6339517.html
  • 11 van der Zwan WA, Bodei L, Mueller-Brand J, de Herder WW, Kvols LK, Kwekkeboom DJ. GEPNETs update: radionuclide therapy in neuroendocrine tumors. Eur J Endocrinol 2015; 172 (01) R1-R8
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Herrmann K, Giovanella L, Santos A. et al. Joint EANM, SNMMI, and IAEA enabling guide: how to set up a theranostics center. J Nucl Med 2022; 63 (12) 1836-1843
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Pascual TNB, Paez D, Iagaru A. et al. Guiding principles on the education and practice of theranostics. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51 (08) 2320-2331
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Ambrosini V, Carrilho Vaz S, Ahmadi Bidakhvidi N. et al. How to attract young talent to nuclear medicine step 1: a survey conducted by the EANM Oncology and Theranostics Committee to understand the expectations of the next generation. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023; 51 (01) 3-11
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Al-Ibraheem A. Theranostics in developing countries: addressing challenges and potentials from training to practice. World J Nucl Med 2023; 22 (03) 171-173
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Beyder DD, Rickley CL, Peters TL, Iman JL, Arenas CM. The nuclear medicine technologist's role in theranostics: SNMMI-TS Advocacy's vision. J Nucl Med Technol 2022; 50 (03) 224-227
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 17 Statistics New Zealand. Cancer patient statistics: Patient treatment numbers by year [Internet]. Accessed December 7, 2024 at: https://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7509