[Long-term therapy of a metastasizing pancreatic vipoma using the somatostatin derivative octreotide]

A patient with metastatic VIP-producing pancreatic tumor was successfully treated with subcutaneous octreotide, an analogue of somatostatin, for more than 4 years. The profuse diarrhea was rapidly controlled and the plasma concentrations of the hormones (VIP, neurotensin, gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide) fell to nearly normal within 2 months. Because of asymptomatic increase in tumor size, we added chemotherapy 2 years later. Since the drug is rapidly effective and well tolerated, it will probably become the therapy of choice in this syndrome.