e14707 Background: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) arise from enterochromaffine and related cells found in epithelial organs throughout the body. Hormone related symptoms in neuroendocrine tumours are well treated with somatostatin analogues. Previous experience has demonstrated some antiproliferative activity of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of NET. Methods: In the last 20 years 68 patients with histologically proven NET were treated: primaries in small bowel (27), pancreas (17), rectum (9), appendix (5), lung (4), unknown (3), extra- adrenal abdominal paragangliomas (2) and stomach (1). The mean age of first diagnosis was 56 years. All of them received somatostatin analogues in long acting depot administration (or combination interferon/somatostatin analogues) for a minimum period of two months and a maximum of 139 months. Somatostatin therapy was started in patients with endocrine-active tumours immediately after the diagnosis and in patients with endocrine-inactive tumours after an observation time of 3 months without therapy if progress was observed. Tumor size was assessed every 3 months after begin of therapy. Results: Best responses were a stable disease in 46 of 68 patients (68%) and a partial remission in 2 (3%). Twenty of 68 patients (29%) showed progress. The responses achieved were in small bowel 20/27; pancreas 14/17; rectum 7/9; appendix 4/5 and lung 3/4. The median duration of response was 34 months. Conclusions: Our results document that treatment with somatostatin analogues prolongs time to progression in NET. Stabilisation of tumour mass itself is a relevant outcome for patients with NET. The benefit of somatostin analogues is indipendent to use of chemotherapy. Because of its efficacy and the good tolerability somatostatin analogues can be considered a first line treatment option.
Long‐acting somatostatin analogues provide significant beneficial effect in patients with refractory small bowel angiodysplasia: Results from a proof of concept open label mono‐centre trial
