Well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas have low proliferative activity and conventional chemotherapy is not recommended. Metronomic chemotherapy, i.e. the frequent administration of cytotoxic drugs at low doses, has demonstrated antiangiogenetic properties. Since well differentiated NE carcinomas are highly vascular, there is a rationale for testing metronomic chemotherapy in this clinical setting. A phase II study was designed to test the activity of protracted 5-fluorouracil (5FU) infusion plus long-acting release (LAR) octreotide for patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma.
Metastatic or locally advanced well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma were treated with 5Fluorouracil protracted intravenous infusion (200 mg/m2 daily) plus Octreotide LAR (20 mg monthly). Primary Endpoint: the response to treatment, evaluated according to the RECIST criteria. Secondary Endpoints: * toxicity, graded according to the NCI-CTG criteria; * symptomatic response: evaluated according to the changes in both the frequency and intensity of symptoms; * biochemical response: evaluated considering the changes in the tumor marker levels (circulating Chromogranin A); * time to progression and survival: were measured from the date of treatment start to the date of progression and the date of last follow-up or death, respectively.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
29
long-acting octreotide acetate at a dose of 20 mg was administered intramuscularly every 4 weeks. 5fluorouracil was given as a protracted continuous infusion without interruption at a daily dose of 200 mg/m2 of body-surface area through an elastomeric pump connected to a central venous access.
Federico Castiglione
Alba, Cuneo, Italy
Davide Perroni
Saluzzo, Cuneo, Italy
Benedetta Ferretti
San Severino Marche, Macerata, Italy
Sebastiano Bombaci
Ivrea, Torino, Italy
disease free survival
Time frame: 50 months
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Anna Ferrero
Orbassano, Torino, Italy
Oscar Alabiso
Novara, Italy
Enrica Milanesi
Torino, Italy