[Therapy of metastatic medullary thyroid gland carcinoma with the somatostatin analog octreotide].
OBJECTIVE
Medullary thyroid carcinoma like other neuroendocrine tumors express somatostatin receptors.


METHODS
Antisecretory and antiproliferative effects of the long-acting somatostatin analog octreotide should be evaluated in a prospective study in 7 patients with metastasizing medullary thyroid carcinoma.


RESULTS
Treatment with octreotide in daily doses between 100 and 1000 micrograms resulted in a remission lasting up to 12 months in 2 of 7 patients. A decrease of tumor marker levels was observed in 2 patients, improvement of diarrhea and a remission of a lymph node metastasis in one of these.


CONCLUSIONS
This minor therapeutic effect may be due to the relatively low density of receptors or with a low affinity of the receptors expressed in medullary thyroid carcinoma to octreotide.
Frank-Raue
K
K
Medizinische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Abteilung Innere Medizin I, Endokrinologie und Stoffwechsel.
Raue
F
F
Ziegler
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D015282:Octreotide