Targeted therapy arrow hitting neuroendocrine tumor cell

Lanreotide for Neuroendocrine Tumors: Is This Targeted Therapy Right for You?

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the effectiveness and safety of lanreotide in treating metastatic, well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) in Korean patients, and how these insights can inform your treatment decisions."

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a diverse group of malignancies that originate from neuroendocrine cells, which are found throughout the body. These tumors can develop in various organs, with over half occurring in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. NETs are often slow-growing, but they can be challenging to treat, especially when detected at an advanced stage.

When NETs are localized and can be surgically removed, surgery is often curative. However, many patients present with tumors that have already spread (metastasized) or cannot be fully removed surgically. In these cases, medical therapies are used to control tumor growth, alleviate symptoms, and improve quality of life. Several types of drugs have been developed for this purpose, including somatostatin analogs (SSAs), mTOR inhibitors, and multi-targeted vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors.

Among the available treatment options, somatostatin analogs like lanreotide and octreotide are frequently used as first-line therapies for well-differentiated (WD) GEP-NETs. These drugs have demonstrated anti-tumor activity and are generally well-tolerated. Lanreotide autogel, a long-acting formulation, has shown particular promise in the CLARINET trial, a pivotal phase III study. However, this trial had some limitations, as it excluded patients with a high Ki-67 index (≥10%) and included few individuals of Asian ethnicity. These limitations highlight the need for more data on lanreotide's effectiveness in diverse populations and real-world settings.

How Effective Is Lanreotide for Korean Patients with GEP-NETs?

Targeted therapy arrow hitting neuroendocrine tumor cell

A recent study published in Investigational New Drugs has shed light on the efficacy and safety of lanreotide in Korean patients with metastatic, well-differentiated GEP-NETs. Researchers retrospectively analyzed data from 64 patients treated at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, between January 2015 and May 2018. The study focused on 45 patients who received lanreotide as a monotherapy. This retrospective analysis aimed to evaluate how effective and safe lanreotide is in routine clinical practice, providing insights beyond the controlled environment of clinical trials.

The study revealed that lanreotide demonstrated notable disease control. According to RECIST v1.1 criteria:

Partial response was achieved in 2.2% of patients.
Stable disease was observed in 88.9% of patients.
The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.4 months (95% confidence interval, 9.5-23.3 months).

These results suggest that lanreotide can effectively stabilize the disease in a significant proportion of patients with GEP-NETs. While the partial response rate was relatively low, the high percentage of patients achieving stable disease indicates that lanreotide can help prevent tumor growth and progression for a considerable period.

Is Lanreotide a Viable Option for Managing GEP-NETs?

The study's findings affirm that lanreotide is a valuable treatment option for Korean patients with well-differentiated GEP-NETs, mirroring the outcomes observed in earlier research. Lanreotide proves to be both well-received and effective in the routine care of Korean patients dealing with WD GEP-NETs. Further research is essential to pinpoint the subgroups that benefit most from lanreotide treatment. These insights could refine treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s10637-018-0710-x, Alternate LINK

Title: Efficacy And Safety Of Lanreotide In Korean Patients With Metastatic, Well-Differentiated Gastroenteropancreatic-Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Retrospective Analysis

Subject: Pharmacology (medical)

Journal: Investigational New Drugs

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Junho Kang, Changhoon Yoo, Hee-Sang Hwang, Seung-Mo Hong, Kyu-Pyo Kim, Sun Young Kim, Yong-Sang Hong, Tae Won Kim, Baek-Yeol Ryoo

Published: 2018-12-10

Everything You Need To Know

What are neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and where do they typically originate?

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a varied group of cancers that start in neuroendocrine cells, which are present throughout the body. These tumors frequently develop in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas, although they can arise in numerous organs. NETs are often slow-growing, but they can be difficult to treat, especially if discovered late.

When is lanreotide considered as a treatment option for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)?

Lanreotide, a somatostatin analog (SSA), is frequently used as a first-line therapy for well-differentiated (WD) gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). It is particularly considered when the tumors have metastasized or cannot be entirely removed surgically, aiming to control tumor growth, alleviate symptoms, and enhance the patient's quality of life. The effectiveness of lanreotide has been observed in studies like the CLARINET trial.

What did the study in Investigational New Drugs reveal about the effectiveness of lanreotide in Korean patients with GEP-NETs?

The study in Investigational New Drugs focusing on Korean patients with metastatic, well-differentiated GEP-NETs revealed that lanreotide demonstrated notable disease control. Specifically, it showed a partial response in 2.2% of patients and stable disease in 88.9% of patients. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.4 months, suggesting that lanreotide can effectively stabilize the disease in a significant proportion of patients. However, it's worth noting the study was a retrospective analysis, providing insights into routine clinical practice.

What are somatostatin analogs (SSAs), like lanreotide, and how do they function in the treatment of well-differentiated GEP-NETs?

Somatostatin analogs (SSAs), such as lanreotide and octreotide, are a class of drugs frequently used as first-line therapies for well-differentiated (WD) gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). These drugs mimic the effects of somatostatin, a naturally occurring hormone that inhibits the secretion of various other hormones and growth factors. By binding to somatostatin receptors on tumor cells, lanreotide can reduce tumor growth and alleviate symptoms caused by excessive hormone production. Lanreotide offers anti-tumor activity and is generally well-tolerated, making it a valuable option for managing GEP-NETs.

What are the limitations of the CLARINET trial regarding the use of lanreotide, and why is it important to conduct studies on diverse populations?

The CLARINET trial, a pivotal phase III study on lanreotide autogel, had limitations including the exclusion of patients with a high Ki-67 index (≥10%) and a limited representation of individuals of Asian ethnicity. These limitations emphasize the need for more data on lanreotide's effectiveness in diverse populations and real-world settings. Different populations may respond differently to treatments due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Therefore, studies on diverse populations help ensure that treatment strategies are effective and safe for all patients, refining treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.