Open AccessRegression of liver metastases of occult carcinoid tumor with slow release Lanreotide therapy
Author(s) -
Marta Bondanelli,
Maria Rosaria Ambrosio,
Maria Chiara Zatelli,
Luigi Cavazzini,
Laura Al Jandali Rifa’y,
Ettore C. degli Uberti
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v11.i13.2041
Subject(s) - lanreotide , chromogranin a , medicine , somatostatin , octreotide , neuroendocrine tumors , carcinoid syndrome , carcinoid tumors , occult , pathology , radionuclide therapy , somatostatin receptor , gastroenterology , oncology , immunohistochemistry , growth hormone , alternative medicine , hormone , acromegaly
Few clinical studies have demonstrated an anti-proliferative activity of somatostatin (SST) analogs in carcinoids. We report the case of a woman with liver metastases of neuroendocrine tumor and no evidence of the primary tumor. The liver metastases were characterized by high proliferation index, immunoreactiviy for somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-1, 2, 3 and 5 and positive octreoscan. Urinary 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, serum serotonin and chromogranin A were elevated. Slow release lanreotide (SR-LAN) therapy for 3 mo controlled clinical and biochemical signs of carcinoid tumor and caused a clear-cut reduction in the diameter of two liver metastases and disappearance of another lesion, with further reduction after 6 and 18 mo. We demonstrated a clear-cut long-lasting anti-proliferative effect of SR-LAN on liver metastases of occult carcinoid with high proliferation index and immunoreactivity for SSTR-1, 2, 3, and 5. Immuno-histochemistry for SSTRs could be a suitable method for the selection of patients with metastatic carcinoid that may benefit from SST analog therapy.