Real world use of lanreotide in neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND: Treatment for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is often with somatostatin analogues (SSA) such as lanreotide in the first-line setting. Real world use of lanreotide in Canada is not well studied. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 69 patients to study real world use of lanreotide at our centre. RESULTS: Lanreotide was the first-line of systemic treatment in 60 patients. Watch-and-wait was a common strategy and was seen in 31 patients. SSA switch strategy was seldom applied. Majority of patients on lanreotide had low-grade NETs. Standard starting dose of lanreotide 120 mg every 28 days was used in 66 patients. Dose escalation to 120 mg every 21 days occurred in 7 patients. The primary intention for treatment was tumor control in 32 patients, and both tumor and symptom control in 34 patients. Median time on treatment was 21.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings were in keeping with current guidelines. It will be interesting to assess how clinical practice evolves in the future and to determine the role of dose escalation for disease control.