Case Report
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2005; 11(13): 2041-2044
Published online Apr 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i13.2041
Regression of liver metastases of occult carcinoid tumor with slow release Lanreotide therapy
Marta Bondanelli, Maria Rosaria Ambrosio, Maria Chiara Zatelli, Luigi Cavazzini, Laura Al Jandali Rifa’y, Ettore C. degli Uberti
Marta Bondanelli, Maria Rosaria Ambrosio, Maria Chiara Zatelli, Laura Al Jandali Rifa’y, Ettore C. degli Uberti, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies - Section of Endocrinology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
Luigi Cavazzini, Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Grants From the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research (MIUR 2003069821-001; 60%, 2003)
Correspondence to: Ettore C. degli Uberti, MD., Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, Section of Endocrinology, University of Ferrara, Via Savonarola, 9, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. ti8@unife.it
Telephone: +39-532-236682 Fax: +39-532-236514
Received: August 14, 2004
Revised: August 15, 2004
Accepted: September 30, 2004
Published online: April 7, 2005
Abstract

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.

Keywords: Carcinoid, Somatostatin analogs, Somatostatin receptors