title: The role of sandostatin LAR in treating patients with advanced hepatocellular cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The overexpression of somatostatin receptors in the liver of some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is well documented. The daily administration of octreotide in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma was shown to have a marginal clinical effectiveness. The aim of the study was to estimate if and to what extent the administration of octreotide long-acting formulation (Sandostatin LAR) improves survival and quality of life in patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight cirrhotic patients (stages A-B) with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled in the study. Octreoscan scintigraphy for detection of STTR was performed in all cases. If it showed intense uptake in the liver, octreotide was administered as follows: Sandostatin 0.5 mg subcutaneous every 8 hours for 6 weeks. At the end of weeks 4-8 Sandostatin LAR 20 mg and at the end of week 12 and every 4 weeks Sandostatin LAR 30 mg intramuscularly. Patients' follow-up was worked out monthly. Thirteen patients unable to receive treatment were used as control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of results between the 2 groups showed a significant difference in the median survival time (31 vs. 16 weeks, p = 0.037) and an improvement of quality of life (60% vs. 23.07%). Also, treated group showed a 72% reduction in the risk of dying during the follow-up period (p = 0.002). No alpha-fetoprotein reduction and decrease of the tumor mass was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the administration of Sandostatin LAR it appears to improve the survival and the quality of life in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: "Saint Savvas" Cancer Hospital, Liver Cancer Unit, Athens, Greece. dimdim@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dimitroulopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xinopoulos
authors.forename: Klisthenis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsamakidis
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zisimopoulos
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andriotis
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markidou
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chrysohoou
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bazinis
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paraskevas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011788:Quality of Life; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D015282:Octreotide