RESISTANCE OF METASTATIC PANCREATIC ENDOCRINE TUMOURS AFTER LONG‐TERM TREATMENT WITH THE SOMATOSTATIN ANALOGUE OCTREOTIDE (SMS 201–995)

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Ten patients with metastatic pancreatic endocrine tumours were treated with the long‐acting somatostatin analogue octreotide (SMS 201–995). Three patients showed no response, clinically or biochemically, and treatment was therefore withdrawn. The seven remaining patients continued treatment for a median period of 28 months (range 13–54 months). Treatment was initially effective, symptoms improved and the concentrations of tumour‐related hormones were reduced.Worsening of symptoms and rising levels of tumour‐related hormone concentrations occurred a median of 5 months (range 1–6 months) after the start of therapy and were initially reversed by increasing the dose of octreotide over a median of 10 months (range 6–16 months). However, after a median of 13 months (range 5–34 months) at the maximum dosage, symptoms recurred and were no longer responsive to a further increase in dosage of octreotide or other therapeutic measures. All patients died within a period of 5 months once this resistant phase of their illness had been reached.

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