Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
A New Technique for Treating Low-risk Prostate Cancer—Super Active Surveillance
Published on: November 7, 2025
Lanreotide Therapy vs Active Surveillance in MEN1-Related Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors < 2 Centimeters
Antongiulio Faggiano1, Roberta Modica2, Fabio Lo Calzo2
1Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Purpose:
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are frequent in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome. They are usually not surgically treated unless larger than 1 to 2 cm or a growth rate > 0.5 cm per year. Somatostatin analogues represent one of the main therapeutic options in pNETs, but they have never been prospectively investigated in MEN1-related pNETs. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of lanreotide in patients with MEN1-related pNETs < 2 cm.
Methods:
MEN1 patients with 1 or more pNETs < 2 cm of maximal diameter were considered. Study design was prospective observational, comparing patients treated with lanreotide autogel 120 mg every 28 days (LAN group) and patients in active surveillance, not receiving any therapy (AS group).
Results:
Forty-two patients were enrolled: 23 in LAN and 19 in AS group. Median follow-up was 73 months. Initial imaging identified a total of 91 pNETs. The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the LAN than in the AS group (median not reached vs 40 months, P < 0.001). In the LAN group, 4 patients had an objective tumor response, 15 patients had stable disease, while 4 had tumor progression. In the AS group, 13 patients had pNET progression, while 6 were stable.
Conclusions:
This is the first prospective study evaluating the efficacy of somatostatin analogues in MEN1-related pNETs. These findings highlight that lanreotide autogel is effective as antiproliferative therapy in MEN1-related pNETs < 2cm, suggesting the utility of somatostatin analogues to arrest the development of tumor lesions as well as to delay or avoid pancreatic surgery.
Insights
Lanreotide effectively slowed the growth of small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). This study suggests lanreotide can delay tumor progression and potentially avoid surgery for MEN1-related pNETs.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are common in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome.
- Current guidelines suggest surgical intervention for pNETs >2 cm or with rapid growth (>0.5 cm/year).
- Somatostatin analogues are a primary treatment for pNETs, but their efficacy in MEN1-related pNETs has not been prospectively studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of lanreotide treatment in patients diagnosed with MEN1-related pNETs smaller than 2 cm.
- To assess the antiproliferative effects of lanreotide in this specific patient population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study design was employed.
- Patients with MEN1 and pNETs <2 cm were divided into two groups: one treated with lanreotide autogel 120 mg every 28 days (LAN group) and another under active surveillance (AS group).
Main Results:
- Forty-two patients were enrolled (23 in LAN, 19 in AS) with a median follow-up of 73 months.
- The LAN group demonstrated significantly longer progression-free survival compared to the AS group (median not reached vs. 40 months, P < 0.001).
- Tumor response in the LAN group included objective response (4 patients), stable disease (15 patients), and progression (4 patients), while the AS group showed progression in 13 patients and stability in 6.
Conclusions:
- This is the first prospective study to assess somatostatin analogue efficacy in MEN1-related pNETs.
- Lanreotide autogel proved effective in inhibiting tumor growth for pNETs <2 cm in MEN1 patients.
- The findings suggest somatostatin analogues can arrest pNET development and delay or prevent the need for pancreatic surgery.
