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Efficient symptomatic control of carcinoid tumors with somatostatin in patients with disease progression under
M W Boehme1, H Schmidt-Gayk, H Bihl
1Dept. of Internal Medicine IV, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Background/Aims:
We report--as a retrospective observation--on eight patients with malignant carcinoid tumors.
Materials And Methods:
All patients were initially treated with alpha-interferon and received the longacting somatostatin analogue octreotide (SMS 201-995) after disease progression. Tumor growth was monitored by CT-scan or ultrasound. In addition, serum CgA and urinary 5-HIAA values were determined.
Results:
All patients responded with relief of symptoms within a few days after the start of octreotide therapy. A regression of the tumor size did not occur, however four patients showed no significant progress over a period of nine to more than eighteen months. The endocrine parameter chromogranin A--determined by immunoluminometric assay (ILMA)--was elevated in all eight patients regardless of symptoms and showed a close correlation with the course of disease. The urinary 5-HIAA values were only elevated in seven patients. In addition, 123I-SMS 204-090 scintigraphy could be performed in six patients. Using this method most of the primary tumors and metastases could be detected.
Conclusions:
Only octreotide therapy showed a sufficient symptomatic control and has to be considered as progress in drug therapy for patients with malignant carcinoid tumors. In addition, chromogranin A is an interesting endocrine parameter for the follow-up of the secretory activity.