Patterns of Use and Clinical Outcomes with Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogues for Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Nationwide French Retrospective Cohort Study in the Real-Life Setting

Treatments and Outcomes in Neuroendocrine Patients Treated with Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogues: An Italian Real-World Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment patterns and outcomes in two propensity score-matched cohorts of patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) treated with first-line somatostatin analogue (SSA). Methods: Metastatic NET patients treated with first-line SSA (2009-2022) were retrospectively examined. First-line lanreotide vs. octreotide cohorts were matched 1:1 by propensity scores for demographics, tumour characteristics, and diagnosis year. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analysed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Among 441 patients, 310 were matched (155 in both the octreotide and lanreotide groups). First-line SSA was monotherapy (63.5%) or combination with other medications (36.5%). A total of 77% of second-line patients (188/244) maintained their initial SSA medication in combination with other therapies. Radioligand therapy with lanreotide (N = 72; 29.5%) or octreotide (N = 70; 28.7%) was the most common second-line treatment. First-line lanreotide and octreotide cohorts had similar median PFS (15.5; 95% CI: 13.6-19.1 vs. 14.0; 95% CI: 12.0-15.8 months), despite octreotide having a 36% higher likelihood of moving to the second line than lanreotide (95% CI: 1.05-1.76, p = 0.018). Multiple metastases (HR = 1.45; p = 0.004, 95% CI: 1.13-1.87) and Ki-67 > 20% (HR = 2.34; p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.43-3.83) were significantly associated with the worst PFS. First-line lanreotide patients had a median OS of 10.4 years (95% CI: 7.5-NA) and octreotide 9.2 years (95% CI: 7.3-NA) (p = 0.537). Bone metastases increased death risk by 91% (p = 0.014; 95% CI: 1.14-3.20). Conclusions: SSA monotherapy is the main first-line treatment and most subsequent treatments include SSA with additional medications. Cohorts had similar PFS/OS, but octreotide demonstrated a 36% significantly higher likelihood of moving to the second-line treatment.

On implications of somatostatin in diabetic retinopathy

Somatostatin, a naturally produced neuroprotective peptide, depresses excitatory neurotransmission and exerts anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects on the retina. In this review, we summarize the progress of somatostatin treatment of diabetic retinopathy through analysis of relevant studies published from February 2019 to February 2023 extracted from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Insufficient neuroprotection, which occurs as a consequence of declined expression or dysregulation of retinal somatostatin in the very early stages of diabetic retinopathy, triggers retinal neurovascular unit impairment and microvascular damage. Somatostatin replacement is a promising treatment for retinal neurodegeneration in diabetic retinopathy. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical trials of somatostatin analog treatment for early diabetic retinopathy have been initiated. In one such trial (EUROCONDOR), topical administration of somatostatin was found to exert neuroprotective effects in patients with pre-existing retinal neurodysfunction, but had no impact on the onset of diabetic retinopathy. Overall, we concluded that somatostatin restoration may be especially beneficial for the growing population of patients with early-stage retinopathy. In order to achieve early prevention of diabetic retinopathy initiation, and thereby salvage visual function before the appearance of moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, several issues need to be addressed. These include the needs to: a) update and standardize the retinal screening scheme to incorporate the detection of early neurodegeneration, b) identify patient subgroups who would benefit from somatostatin analog supplementation, c) elucidate the interactions of somatostatin, particularly exogenously-delivered somatostatin analogs, with other retinal peptides in the context of hyperglycemia, and d) design safe, feasible, low cost, and effective administration routes.

Neuroendocrine Neoplasia: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) represents a sensational field of modern medicine; immense progress in emerging biochemical, molecular, endocrine, immunohistochemical, and serum tumour markers of disease, respectively, which are part of early diagnosis, genetic testing, and multidisciplinary approaches [...].

Treatment Patterns of Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogs for Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background: Long-acting somatostatin analog therapy (LA-SSA) is recommended as first-line therapy for treatment of unresectable or metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Understanding treatment sequencing and dosing patterns of LA-SSA is essential for clinical decision-making to provide value-based management of NETs. Objective: To describe treatment patterns of LA-SSA among patients with NETs and subgroups with carcinoid syndrome (CS) in the United States. Methods: This retrospective study utilized claims data from MarketScan® databases to identify patients with NETs and newly treated with LA-SSA between January 1, 2015, and October 31, 2020. Patients were stratified by index LA-SSA (lanreotide and octreotide long-acting release [LAR]). Reported 28-day doses were based on claim fields for days' supply/drug quantity or units of service. Dose escalation was defined as increases in quantity or frequency. Continuous variables, categorical variables, and Kaplan-Meier estimated treatment durations were compared using t-tests, chi-square/Fisher's tests, and log-rank tests, respectively. Results: The study included 241 lanreotide and 521 octreotide LAR patients. Compared with octreotide LAR patients, treatment duration was longer for lanreotide patients (median, 41.3 vs 26.8 months; log-rank p=.004). Fewer lanreotide patients received rescue treatment with short-acting octreotide (7.9% vs 14.4%; p=.011), and a first (6.2% vs 27.3%) and second dose escalation (0.8% vs 5.2%; both p<.05). Among patients with doses reported, fewer lanreotide patients received above-label doses (2.5% [5/202] vs 14.4% [60/416]; p<.001). Among patients who ended treatment during follow-up, fewer lanreotide patients transitioned to another LA-SSA (18.9% [17/90] vs 33.6% [92/274]; p=.008). Similar treatment patterns were observed in CS subgroups. Results for switched treatment patterns were limited due to insufficient sample sizes. Discussion: Real-world treatment patterns of LA-SSA were assessed using more recent administrative claims data. Compared with octreotide LAR patients, lanreotide patients were more likely to remain longer on initial treatment and starting dose without dose escalations and less likely to use rescue treatment and transition to another LA-SSA after discontinuation of the index treatment. Conclusions: Findings from this claims study suggest a potential clinical benefit of lanreotide in NET management.

Health care resource use and costs among patients with carcinoid syndrome in France: Analysis of the National Health Insurance Database

OBJECTIVES

Carcinoid syndrome (CS) develops in approximately 20% of patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NET). This study described healthcare resource utilization and its associated costs among patients with NET and CS, using the French national health care data system.

METHODS

Patients were included if they had a hospital stay associated with the code E34.0 "CS" and at least one delivery of a somatostatin analogue (SSA) between 01/01/2012 and 31/12/2016. The end of the analysis was either 31/12/2017 or the date of death, whichever occurred first. Mean overall costs were described by item of expenditure and by periods.

RESULTS

646 patients were included: 64yo, 55% men, 64% and 15% had NET from the small-intestine or lung, respectively. Among them, 309 patients were incident and 271 died during the study period. Mean overall cost per person per month (PPPM) was €2,892: €3,273 for the first year following diagnosis, €2,574 in "middle-years" and €5,039 within the year preceding death. The two most costly expenditure items were drugs (€1,695 PPPM) and hospital stays (€870 PPPM).

CONCLUSION

The first year following diagnosis and the year preceding death are the two periods representing the highest costs for CS care in France. Successful disease management may contribute to lower costs in the intermediate period.

Satisfaction with injection experience of patients with neuroendocrine tumors enrolled on lanreotide autogel patient support programs: Results from the international HomeLAN survey

Lanreotide autogel/depot (LAN) is a somatostatin analog used in first-line treatment for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The aim of HomeLAN was to evaluate the satisfaction with injection experience among patients with NETs receiving at-home LAN injection via patient support programs (PSPs). This was an international, non-interventional, cross-sectional, online survey in adults with NETs enrolled in PSPs, receiving LAN injections at home, administered by a healthcare professional (HCP) or administered independently (self or caregiver administering injection). The primary endpoint was satisfaction with the most recent LAN injection. Secondary endpoints included the level of anxiety prior to injection, impact on daily life, and the extents to which participants felt in control of their life and agreed that home administration met their medical needs. In total, 111 participants from Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain completed the survey (50.5% male; mean age, 63.6 years; most common primary tumor site was intestine [47.7%]). For 99 participants, their most recent injection was administered by an HCP. Overall, 95.5% of all participants were satisfied with their most recent injection experience (95% confidence interval: 89.89%-98.06%); 67% reported experiencing no anxiety prior to injection, 91.0% reported that home injection had a "great deal" or "quite a bit" of positive impact on their daily life, and 85.6% strongly agreed that the PSP met their medical needs. In the HCP injection subgroup, 71.7% reported that this mode of administration helped them to feel in control of their lives. In this patient survey, satisfaction levels were high among patients with NETs receiving LAN injections at home via a LAN PSP. Most patients did not experience anxiety prior to their most recent injection and acknowledged that thanks to their treatment they had a good quality of life despite their disease. Most strongly agreed that the PSP met their medical needs, which highlights the valuable service that LAN PSPs provide for patients with NETs.