title: The antitumoral effect of the long-acting somatostatin analog lanreotide in neuroendocrine tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Somatostatin analogs are the first-line drugs for controlling hormone-mediated symptoms of carcinoid tumors. Prospective and retrospective studies have suggested that somatostatin analogs also have antiproliferative activity. The octapeptide lanreotide is available in sustained-release form, obviating the need for daily injections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 46 patients were enrolled in this open, prospective, phase II trial. They received lanreotide 30 mg i.m. every 14 days for 6 months when they had symptomatic carcinoid tumors, and lanreotide 30 mg i.m. every 10 days if they had nonsymptomatic tumors. Nonsymptomatic tumors were progressive before the start of the study. Tumor size was assessed every 3 months by means of computed tomography. The assessment was centralized and was made by an external panel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 30 patients had symptomatic neuroendocrine tumors and 16 had asymptomatic neuroendocrine tumors. Five patients in the group with symptomatic tumors and two in the group with nonsymptomatic tumors were considered not to be evaluable. The mean duration of treatment was 12 months in the group with symptomatic tumors and 13 months in the other group. Among the 39 evaluable patients, two objective responses were obtained, giving an objective response rate of 5% (one in the group with symptomatic tumors and one in the other group). Nineteen patients had no significant increase in their tumor size for a mean of 9.5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lanreotide is safe and well tolerated in patients with carcinoid tumors. It seems to have both symptomatic and antitumoral effects in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Gastroentérologie, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ducreux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruszniewski
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chayvialle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blumberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cloarec
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dupas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gouerou
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Genestin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hammel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rougier
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008303:Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C060347:lanreotide; D013004:Somatostatin