Octreotide as an antineoplastic agent in the treatment of functional and nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors.
BACKGROUND
Although patients with neuroendocrine tumors typically exhibit an indolent clinical course, the pace of disease accelerates and the prognosis deteriorates once objective progression of disease begins. Thirty-four patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors were treated with octreotide as antineoplastic therapy. This treatment was begun only after documentation of clear objective progression of disease.


METHODS
A Phase II trial was performed at a tertiary comprehensive cancer center.


RESULTS
The median survival for this patient population from the start of octreotide therapy has not been reached, with a median follow-up of 29 months (range, 1-47 months). No major objective tumor regressions were seen. Seventeen patients (50%) experienced a computed tomography-documented stabilization of disease that was maintainable for a minimum of 2 months (median, 5 months; range, 0-27 months). Of the 34 patients, 20 patients received octreotide as their first antineoplastic therapy. The median survival for these 20 patients has not been reached, with a median follow-up also of 29 months (range, 12-41 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Octreotide may influence the natural history of neuroendocrine tumors. The survival in patients treated with octreotide, as measured from the time of progression of disease, compares favorably with that of historical controls. Proof of a survival advantage for patients treated with octreotide would require a multicenter, randomized trial.
Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
L
L
Saltz
B
B
Trochanowski
M
M
Buckley
B
B
Heffernan
D
D
Niedzwiecki
Y
Y
Tao
D
D
Kelsen
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015282:Octreotide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis
D005755:Gastrins; D015282:Octreotide