Use of long-acting somatostatin analog, lanreotide, in neuroendocrine tumors

Somatostatin and its analogues have been reported highly effective in reducing the clinical syndrome in endocrine tumours. The effects of a long-acting analogue of somatostatin, lanreotide, were evaluated in 10 patients with neuroendocrine tumours. In patients with carcinoid tumour, a relief of flushing was achieved in 7 of 8 patients, of diarrhoea in 7 of 7 patients and of bronchoconstriction in 2 of 2 patients. In 5 of 8 patients there was a decrease of more than 50% of 5-hidroxyindolacetic acid excretion. The activity on tumour size was assessed in all the patients. No objective responses were observed. The tolerance to lanreotide was excellent. For the high symptomatic effect and mild toxicity lanreotide seems to be an appropriate treatment in symptomatic patients.