Long lasting octreotide LAR therapy in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung

Abstract

In this article we report a case of a patient with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung. Patients with LCNEC usually have poor prognosis and the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for these patients has not been fully established. This case suggests that octreotide LAR, a somatostatine analogue (SSA), can be useful in the treatment of neuroendocrine carcinoma also as maintenance therapy in association with chemotherapy. Further studies, regarding individual tumour biological behaviour and SSAs optimal dosage, could be useful to optimise treatment and to add new insights into the mechanisms of action and the role of SSAs in the therapy of NETs.