High-dose lanreotide in the treatment of poorly differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: a case report.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), including poorly differentiated carcinomas (NECs), are rarely encountered. The majority of these tumors do not secrete excess hormones, but functioning NETs produce large amounts of vasoactive peptides and may cause carcinoid syndrome. Synthetic somatostatin analogs (SSAs) have been widely used in NETs for control of hormonal syndromes. Here, we present a case of poorly differentiated, grade 3 pancreatic NEC associated with carcinoid syndrome, for which adequate symptom control was achieved for 2 years and 4 months using the long-acting SSA lanreotide Autogel(®). In February 2009, a 55-year-old woman presented with episodes of flushing, diarrhea and epigastric pain. Imaging techniques revealed the presence of a metabolically active mass expressing somatostatin receptors in the hilar area of the liver. Histopathological examination confirmed the malignant nature of the mass, which was identified as a poorly differentiated grade 3 pancreatic NEC (TNM staging: T4NxM0). Therapeutic options were limited for the patient because of the extent of the primary mass involving the celiac axis, severe gastrointestinal toxicity experienced as a side effect of chemotherapy with cisplatin-etoposide and, later in the course of the disease, extensive liver metastases and carcinoid heart syndrome. Along with a palliative debulking surgery and right portal vein embolization, biotherapy with a high dose of lanreotide Autogel (120 mg/14 days) contributed to alleviation of symptoms caused by hormone overproduction, even after the development of liver metastases. These results suggest that patients with poorly differentiated NECs who exhibit signs of carcinoid syndrome can benefit from treatment with somatostatin analogs.
Department of Medical Oncology, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Frank
F
Van Fraeyenhove
Department of Radiation Oncology, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Nathalie
N
Meireson
Department of Gastroenterology, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Luc
L
Terriere
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Paul
P
Willemsen
Department of Radiology, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Jan
J
Kunnen
Department of Pathology, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Caroline
C
Mattelaer
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Frank
F
Van Acker
Department of Medical Oncology, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Dirk
D
Schrijvers
Carcinoid; High-dose lanreotide; Neuroendocrine tumor; Pancreas