title: Slow release lanreotide in combination with interferon-alpha2b in the treatment of symptomatic advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: Somatostatin analogs are promising agents in the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma. We have evaluated the effects of the slow release somatostatin analog lanreotide in combination with interferon-alpha2b in seven patients with advanced and symptomatic medullary thyroid carcinoma. The frequency and intensity of daily flushing episodes and bowel movements, the intensity of fatigue, weight, performance status, calcitonin levels, and change in tumor masses were recorded before and during treatment. No objective complete or partial responses were recorded. However, disease stabilization and minor tumor regression were observed in three of seven and two of seven patients, respectively. The number and intensity of bowel movements and flushing episodes decreased in five of six and two of two patients, respectively. Decrease in fatigue and improvement in performance status were observed in five of seven and six of seven patients, respectively. Weight gain was recorded in three of four patients. Plasma levels of calcitonin decreased significantly in six of seven patients. Clinical benefit, evaluated by a structured algorithm, was achieved in six of seven patients and was coupled with a decrease of 50% or more in serum calcitonin levels in three of seven patients. In conclusion, the combination of lanreotide with interferon had a major impact on clinical symptoms and was well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Molecolare e Clinica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tagliaferri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caraglia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rampone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lupoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C060347:lanreotide; D013004:Somatostatin; D002116:Calcitonin