Long-term results of patients with malignant carcinoid syndrome receiving octreotide LAR.

BACKGROUND

Octreotide LAR is an established treatment for malignant carcinoid syndrome. However, studies with large number of patients and long follow-up are lacking.

AIM: To present long-terms results with octreotide LAR, assessing duration of clinical and objective response and treatment tolerance, in a large, homogeneous cohort of patients with malignant carcinoid syndrome.

METHODS

A total of 108 patients with metastatic midgut neuroendocrine tumours were included in this 8-year study. Clinical evaluation was based on a symptom score. Radiological assessment was based on RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours) criteria.

RESULTS

Of the 108 patients, 24% had a sustained symptomatic response. In the remaining patients, loss of symptomatic response with the initial dose was noted within 3-60 months. In 17% of them, symptoms were controlled by just an increase of octreotide LAR dose, whilst the other patients required additional treatment. Overall, in 45.3% of patients, symptoms were well controlled during the study period with only octreotide LAR, and no additional treatment was required. No significant adverse effects were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Octreotide LAR treatment provides a sustained symptomatic response in about half of the patients with malignant carcinoid syndrome and contributes to disease stabilization for a longer period than previously described.