Lanreotide autogel therapy in metastatic carcinoid tumour controlled by ultrasonography and tumour markers

Aim and background: Carcinoid tumours are rare progressive tumours that are sometimes associated with symptoms. These symptoms are responsive to treatment with somatostatin analogues lanreotide and octreotide. The prolonged release formulation lanreotide autogel was applied in our study controlled by different methods. We aimed to evaluate the benefit of lanreotide autogel to detect the extension of the tumour and to compare the benefit with other markers.

Case report: The metastatic carcinoid tumour was detected during the surgical therapy. The 55 y old patient has undergone somatostatin receptor scintigraphy it proved the receptor positivity. The metastases were measured by three-dimensional ultrasonography. The patient received deep subcutaneous injection of autogel 90mg every 28 days for 9 months. Throughout the study, symptomatic efficacy was assessed by use of patient – completed daily diary cards. Each month, tumour stability was assessed by measuring 24 hour urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and plasma chromoganin A (cagA). The ultrasound examination was repeated at the monthly control.

Results: During the 9 months follow up the complaints of patients were reduced the urine 5-HIAA has been normalised and the cag A levels decreased. By the ultrasonography method the tumour volume hasn't changed.

Conclusion: The new 28 day PR autogel formulation of lanreotide was effective in reducing the symptoms and the tumour markers while the tumour volume remained the same.