title: Neuroendocrine tumours - Medical therapy: Biological.
abstract: Somatostatin analogues (SSA) are well established antisecretory drugs that have been used as first line treatment for symptomatic control in hormonally active neuroendocrine tumours (NET) for three decades. Both available depot formulations of SSA, long-acting repeatable (LAR) octreotide and lanreotide autogel, seem similarly effective and well tolerated, although comparative trials in NET have not been performed. The importance of SSA as antiproliferative treatment has been increasingly recognized during recent years. Two placebo-controlled trials demonstrated significant prolongation of progression free survival under SSA treatment. However, objective response as assessed by imaging is rare. Interferon-α (IFNα) also has antisecretory and antiproliferative efficacy in NET. Due to the less favourable toxicity profile it mainly has a role as add-on option in the refractory setting, especially in carcinoid syndrome patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate the antiproliferative efficacy of the multiligand SSA pasireotide and the role of pegylated IFNα.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Philipps University Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: sprengea@uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinke
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Martin Luther University Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krug
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D015282:Octreotide
keywords: antiproliferative treatment; interferon-α; lanreotide; octreotide; pasireotide; somatostatin analogue; symptomatic treatment