title: Continuous 5-fluorouracil infusion plus long acting octreotide in advanced well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. A phase II trial of the Piemonte oncology network.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas are highly vascularized and may be sensitive to drugs administered on a metronomic schedule that has shown antiangiogenic properties. A phase II study was designed to test the activity of protracted 5-fluorouracil (5FU) infusion plus long-acting release (LAR) octreotide in patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients with metastatic or locally advanced well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma were treated with protracted 5FU intravenous infusion (200 mg/m2 daily) plus LAR octreotide (20 mg monthly). Patients were followed for toxicity, objective response, symptomatic and biochemical response, time to progression and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria showed partial response in 7 (24.1%), stable disease in 20 (69.0%), and disease progression in 2 patients. Response did not significantly differ when patients were stratified by primary tumor site and proliferative activity. A biochemical (chromogranin A) response was observed in 12/25 assessable patients (48.0%); symptom relief was obtained in 9/15 symptomatic patients (60.0%). There was non significant decrease in circulating vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF) over time. Median time to progression was 22.6 months (range, 2.7-68.5); median overall survival was not reached yet. Toxicity was mild and manageable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous/metronomic 5FU infusion plus LAR octreotide is well tolerated and shows activity in patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. The potential synergism between metronomic chemotherapy and antiangiogenic drugs provides a rationale for exploring this association in the future.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00953394.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera San Luigi, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy. mariapia.brizzi@email.it
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brizzi
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Milanesi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volante
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birocco
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bombaci
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perroni
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alabiso
authors.forename: Libero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciuffreda
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bertetto
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papotti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015282:Octreotide; D005472:Fluorouracil