Neuroendocrine Tumors

Temozolomide: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Malignant Digestive Endocrine Tumors
Frédérique Maire^a, Pascal Hammel^a, Sandrine Faivre^b, Olivia Hentic^a, Lorena Yapur^b, Béatrice Larroque^c, Anne Couvelard^d, Magaly Zappa^e, Eric Raymond^b, Philippe Lévy^a, Philippe Ruszniewski<sup>a

a</sup>Pôle des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Service de Gastroentérologie-Pancréatologie,
^bService d'Oncologie,
^cService d'Epidémiologie et de Statistiques,
^dService de Pathologie Anatomique, and
^eService de Radiologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroendocrinology 2009;90:67-72 (DOI: 10.1159/000225389)

  Key Words

• Digestive endocrine tumor
• Temozolomide

  Abstract

Background: Systemic chemotherapies are associated with limited response rates and significant toxicity in patients with malignant digestive endocrine tumors (DET). Preliminary studies have reported interesting results with temozolomide in patients with DET. Aim: It was the aim of this study to assess the efficacy and safety of temozolomide in patients with malignant DET. Patients and Methods: Twenty-one patients, median age 61 years (range 56-77), with metastatic well-differentiated DET were retrospectively studied. All patients except 1 had received prior treatment (hepatic resection, chemotherapy). All patients had progressive disease in the 3 months prior to entry into the study. Temozolomide was administered at doses of 200 mg/m² daily for 5 days, every 28 days. Treatment was assessed for safety, progression-free and overall survival. Results: The median number of temozolomide cycles was 5 (range 2-15). Grade 3 hematological toxicity occurred in 5 patients. There were no toxic deaths. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria, partial response and stabilization were obtained in 1 (5%) and 17 patients (81%), respectively. The median time to progression was 9 months (range 3-26). The 1-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 42 and 77%, respectively. Conclusion: Temozolomide is a well-tolerated oral chemotherapy in patients with malignant DET, including those who have already received treatment. In patients with progressive disease, temozolomide controls tumor progression in 86% of cases.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Frédérique Maire
Pôle des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Service de Gastroentérologie-Pancréatologie
Hôpital Beaujon, 100 Boulevard du Général Leclerc
FR-92118 Clichy Cedex (France)
Tel. +33 1 40 87 52 25, Fax +33 1 42 70 37 84, E-Mail frederique.maire@bjn.aphp.fr

  Article Information

Received: August 1, 2008
Accepted after revision: November 17, 2008
Published online: June 11, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 17