Paragangliomas

Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGs) are predominantly non-secreting, benign and slow-growing tumors. Although most patients remain asymptomatic, up to 30% develop symptoms related to local tumor growth and fewer than 5-10% develop metastatic disease. Surgery has long been considered the standard treatment, while radiotherapy and active surveillance represent alternative management strategies. Treatment-related morbidity and impaired quality of life have been reported in patients with HNPGs; however, the impact of immediate intervention compared with an initial active surveillance strategy has not been prospectively evaluated. This multicenter randomized controlled trial aims to compare active surveillance with immediate intervention in patients with newly diagnosed carotid or vagal paragangliomas. The study hypothesis is that an initial active surveillance strategy increases the time before functional outcome deterioration, particularly ENT-related symptoms, while not resulting in a higher complication rate when treatment is subsequently performed. Eligible patients will undergo baseline assessment including a specialized ENT examination to evaluate cranial nerve function and cervical MRI (or contrast-enhanced CT when MRI is contraindicated) to confirm tumor location, size, and the absence of lymphadenopathy or atypical imaging features. After providing written informed consent, participants will be centrally randomized in a 1:1 ratio, stratified by study center and tumor location, to either active surveillance or immediate intervention. Patients assigned to active surveillance will undergo regular clinical and radiological follow-up, with treatment initiated only if disease progression or symptom development warrants intervention. Patients assigned to immediate intervention will receive surgery or radiotherapy according to multidisciplinary team recommendations and local practice, within six months after randomization. Patients who decline participation in the randomized trial, as well as those who are not eligible for randomization, may be offered participation in a parallel observational study collecting clinical, imaging, treatment and outcome data according to routine practice. Patient quality of life will also be assessed throughout the study (experimental and observational) using validated questionnaires.

Background: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI NET) are a type of cancer that affects the stomach and intestines; pheochromocytoma/paragangliomas (PPGL) are tumors that grow in or near the adrenal glands. Both of these types of tumor have high levels of a protein called somatostatin receptors (SSTR) on their surfaces. Researchers want to test a treatment that targets SSTR. Objective: To test a drug (\[212Pb\]VMT-alpha-NET) in people with GI NET or PPGL. The drug has 2 components: a protein to bind to SSTR and a radioactive agent to kill the cancer cells. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older with GI NET or PPGL tumors that have spread and cannot be removed with surgery. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam, with imaging scans, blood tests, and tests of their heart function. \[212Pb\]VMT-alpha-NET is given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein (infusion). Treatment will be given in four 8 week cycles. Participants will receive the drug on the first day of each cycle. They will remain in the clinic at least 4 hours after each infusion and may need to stay in the hospital for up to 48 hour for monitoring and testing. They will have blood tests every week of each cycle. Some participants will also get a related study drug (\[203Pb\]VMT-alpha-NET). They will receive this drug a few days before the first 2 cycles. At 4, 24, and 48 hours after each infusion, they will have whole body scans. These scans will show where the study drug went in their body. Follow-up visits will continue for 10 years....

This multicenter retrospective Italian study evaluates the efficacy and safety of PRRT in patients with advanced, unresectable or metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL). Data from \~210 patients treated between 2000 and 2024 will be analyzed. The primary endpoint is disease control rate (DCR). Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and prognostic factors.