Clinical evaluation of somatostatin analogues (Octreotide: SMS 201-995) on neuroendocrine tumor growth

Nel novembre 1991 é stato avviato uno studio sui tumori neuroendocrini.

Lo studio (Protocollo 91/12) aveva l’obiettivo di valutare la fattibilità e la tollerabilità del trattamento con octreotide in tumori neuroendocrini metastatici e/non resecabili e di verificare l’efficacia della somatostatina nel produrre regressione obiettiva del tumore e nel controllare la sindrome da carcinoide. L’octreotide è stato somministrato alla dose di 500 mg. t.i.d. oppure 1000 mg t.i.d..

Sono stati arruolati 58 pazienti, 23 trattati con la bassa dose.

Lo studio ha dimostrato che l’octreotide ha una limitata efficacia nel controllo della crescita tumorale (RP: 3%), mentre le risposte sintomatiche e quelle biochimiche sono state soddisfacenti, rispettivamente nel 73% e 67% dei pazienti.

Centri partecipanti :                     Centro Rifer. Oncologico di AVIANO (PN)

Istituto Oncologico, BARI

Istit. Naz. Ricerca Cancro, GENOVA

Casa di Cura G.B. Mangioni, LECCO (CO)

Ospedale Civile, LECCO (CO)

Ospedale Civile C. Poma, MANTOVA

Istituto Nazionale Tumori – OMB, MILANO

Ospedale Ramazzini, MODENA

Ospedale S. Gerardo di MONZA (MI)

Ospedale Civile di PADOVA

Policlinico di PALERMO

Ospedale S. Camillo, ROMA

Ospedale di Circolo di VARESE

Ospedale Civile di VERONA

Ospedale Vito Fazzi – LECCE

Ospedale Civile – THIENE

 

Riferimento Bibliografico:

  • Clinical efficacy of octreotide in the treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. A study by the Italian Trials in Medical Oncology Group.
    (Di Bartolomeo M, Bajetta E, Buzzoni R, Mariani L, Carnaghi C, Somma L, Zilembo N, di Leo A).
    Cancer. 1996 Jan 15;77(2):402-8.

    Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The unsatisfactory control of neuroendocrine tumor growth with chemotherapy and/or interferon (IFN-2a) stimulated us to investigate the role of the somatostatin analogue octreotide (SMS 201.995), which is reported to be highly effective in controlling carcinoid syndrome symptoms. Octreotide has been used in a wide range of doses, and it was postulated that higher doses might lead to an objective response.
METHODS:
The aim of the present multicenter Phase II study was to determine the safety and efficacy of SMS 201.995 in controlling carcinoids and other neuroendocrine tumors. Fifty-eight patients were treated subcutaneously with 2 sequential doses of the drug (Sandostatina, Sandoz, Inc., S.b.A. Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland). The first 23 patients received 500 micrograms 3 times a day and the remaining 35 patients received 1000 micrograms 3 times a day. The treatment was continued until the tumor progressed.

RESULTS:
All of the patients were adequately treated and evaluated. The predominant histotype was carcinoid, although there were instances of medullary thyroid carcinoma, pancreatic islet cell tumors, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Carcinoid syndrome was documented in 16 patients and abnormal urinary 5-hydroxyindoloacetic acid excretion in 15. The median treatment duration was 5 months (range, 2-31 months). The responses were evaluated in three categories: tumor regression for tumor growth control, symptom response, and biochemical response. There was an effect on tumor growth in two patients with carcinoids. Symptomatic control was achieved in 73% of patients and a biochemical response in 77% of patients. In twenty-seven patients, the disease stabilized for at least 6 months (range, 6-32+). The median survival time for all patients was 22 months (range, 1-32+).

CONCLUSIONS:
In terms of tumor regression, octreotide is disappointing (partial response: 3%); symptomatic response and biochemical control are satisfactory. These data confirm that somatostatin analogues are comparable to interferons in the treatment of carcinoid syndrome, although other efforts are necessary to control tumor regression.

PMID: 8625251   [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Download articolo: Cancer 1996