Long-term survival of patients treated with octreotide for metastatic well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung

Two patients with a radically operated well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (WDNC) of the lung who developed a carcinoid syndrome due to metastatic spread of the tumor are reported. Treatment with somatostatin analogue octreotide was administered to both patients following their refusal of a standard chemotherapic regimen. Prompt resolution of the carcinoid syndrome was observed in both following octreotide treatment and both patients are alive and well after more than four years without evidence of further progression of the tumor. It is suggested that octreotide should be considered as an effective therapy in WDNC for the control of the disease and associated paraneoplastic syndromes.