Somatostatin analogs in neuroendocrine tumors treatment

L.Yu. Morgunov

Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship, Moscow

Functioning and non-functioning neuroendocrine tumors diagnosis and treatment is a difficult task. In recent decades, the neuroendocrine tumors incidence has been steadily increasing. Despite the fact that the only radical treatment method for these neoplasms remains surgical, tumors are commonly diagnosed at the metastasis stage, when only palliative care is possible. The task of treating patients with this pathology is to eliminate the tumor itself and suppress the symptom-complex caused by carcinoid syndrome, which itself can cause patient death. Tumor growth inhibition and hormonal expression suppression by somatostatin analogs (in particular, octreotide) can significantly extend the life and improve its quality in patients. In the patient’s treatment with neuroendocrine tumors, a drug with proven effectiveness that can suppress the carcinoid syndrome clinical symptomatology remains octreotide, which  also has antiproliferative activity. Sustained-release octreotide (Octreotide-depo) has great usability for patients. The article provides a literature review, studies and clinical cases in which the higher doses introduction of the drug in a number of conditions is considered, as well as rare diseases in which sustained-release octreotide can be effectively used.

Keywords: sustained-release octreotide, somatostatin analogs, neuroendocrine tumors, carcinoid syndrome, metastases.

For citation: Morgunov L.Yu. Somatostatin analogs in neuroendocrine tumors treatment. RMJ. 2019;6:10–14.