Therapeutic response to octreotide in patients with refractory CPT-11 induced diarrhea.
OBJECTIVE
Severe diarrhea can represent a dose-limiting toxicity with the use of CPT-11. Conventional therapy is ineffective in some patients and is also limited by patient compliance. We report our observation on the effectiveness of octreotide acetate in the treatment of CPT-11-induced diarrhea refractory to opioids.


METHODS
We describe 4 patients with metastatic gastrointestinal tumors who developed severe diarrhea following treatment with CPT-11 (65-125 mg/m2/weekly for 4 weeks every 6 weeks). Diarrhea was refractory to treatment with loperamide and diphenoxylate and was treated with octreotide acetate.


RESULTS
Complete resolution of diarrhea was observed within 2-4 days of octreotide acetate treatment. Three patients responded to SC octreotide given every 8 hours and the 4th patient to octreotide given by continuous s.c. infusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary observation suggests value of octreotide in the control of CPT-11 induced refractory diarrhea. Prospective studies are warranted.
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Department of Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030-4095, USA.
Lozano
R
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Ajani
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000930:Antidiarrheals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D015282:Octreotide; D002166:Camptothecin