title: Long-term effects of depot long-acting somatostatin analog octreotide on hormone levels and tumor mass in acromegaly.
abstract: The effects of a 12- to 24-month treatment with depot long-acting octreotide (OCT-LAR) on hormone profile, tumor mass, and clinical symptoms were reported in 36 patients with active acromegaly [GH, 34.2 +/- 5.6 microg/L; insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), 784.5 +/- 40.4 microg/L]. Fifteen patients were de novo whereas 21 had previously undergone unsuccessful surgery. Serum GH (P < 0.0001) and IGF-I levels (P < 0.0001) significantly decreased as early as after the first injection of OCT-LAR and progressively declined during the 12-24 months of treatment both in de novo and in operated patients. At the last follow-up, GH hypersecretion was controlled (< or =2.5 microg/L) in 69.4% whereas normal IGF-I levels were achieved in 61.1% of patients. GH and IGF-I suppression during OCT-LAR treatment was similar in de novo and operated patients as shown by nadir GH (2.3 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.6 microg/L) and IGF-I (323.1 +/- 34.9 vs. 275.5 +/- 33.0 microg/L), percent suppression of GH (92.7 +/- 2.0 vs. 85.9 +/- 3.3%) and IGF-I (57.4 +/- 4.9 vs. 61.5 +/- 4.6%), and prevalence of GH (73.3 vs. 76.2%) and IGF-I (53.3 vs. 71.4%) control. A decrease in tumor volume was observed in 12 of 15 de novo patients, whereas no shrinkage was detected in 4 of 9 operated patients. No patient had tumor reexpansion during OCT-LAR treatment. Significant clinical improvement was obtained in all patients; heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the entire population. A mild but significant increase of blood glucose levels, followed by a decrease of serum insulin levels, was observed after 3 months of treatment: this effect subsided with treatment continuation. OCT-LAR treatment was well tolerated by most patients. In conclusion, long-term treatment with OCT-LAR was effective in controlling GH and IGF-I hypersecretion in most patients with acromegaly, when applied either as primary therapy or as adjunctive therapy after surgery. Tumor shrinkage was observed in de novo patients during OCT-LAR treatment, suggesting that it can be successfully applied as primary therapy in patients bearing invasive tumors, who are less likely to be cured after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy. colao@unina.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marzullo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cappabianca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boerlin
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lancranjan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006728:Hormones; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D015282:Octreotide