Expert review of anticancer therapy
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Expert Rev Anticancer Ther · May 2009
ReviewSomatostatin analog octreotide LAR in gastro-entero-pancreatic tumors.
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are considered to be rare but, during the last two decades, their incidence and prevalence has considerably increased in gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) NETs. Most GEP-NETs express somatostatin receptors, which could be targets for treatment. The development of somatostatin analogs for treatment of functioning NETs was a revolution in the treatment of these patients and is still a cornerstone for managing hormone-related clinical symptoms. ⋯ The side effects are few and easily manageable. In the future, somatostatin analogs will continue to be a major treatment option for functioning NETs, but will be combined with other biologicals, such as a-interferons, mTOR inhibitors and VEGF inhibitors. A new multireceptor somatostatin analog, SOM230 (pasireotide), as well as chimeric molecules, such as dopastatin (a combination of a somatostatin analogue plus a dopamine agonist), will come into the clinical management of GEP-NETs.