title: Regression of liver metastases of occult carcinoid tumor with slow release lanreotide therapy.
abstract: Few clinical studies have demonstrated an anti-proliferative activity of somatostatin (SST) analogs in carcinoids. We report the case of a woman with liver metastases of neuroendocrine tumor and no evidence of the primary tumor. The liver metastases were characterized by high proliferation index, immunoreactiviy for somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-1, 2, 3 and 5 and positive octreoscan. Urinary 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, serum serotonin and chromogranin A were elevated. Slow release lanreotide (SR-LAN) therapy for 3 mo controlled clinical and biochemical signs of carcinoid tumor and caused a clear-cut reduction in the diameter of two liver metastases and disappearance of another lesion, with further reduction after 6 and 18 mo. We demonstrated a clear-cut long-lasting anti-proliferative effect of SR-LAN on liver metastases of occult carcinoid with high proliferation index and immunoreactivity for SSTR-1, 2, 3, and 5. Immuno-histochemistry for SSTRs could be a suitable method for the selection of patients with metastatic carcinoid that may benefit from SST analog therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, Section of Endocrinology, University of Ferrara, Via Savonarola, 9, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bondanelli
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zatelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavazzini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al Jandali Rifa'y
authors.forename: Ettore C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: degli Uberti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C060347:lanreotide; D013004:Somatostatin