title: Established and potential therapeutic applications of octreotide in palliative care.
abstract: Octreotide acetate was developed as a pharmacologically stable, long-acting analogue of the hormone somatostatin. Mimicking the actions of somatostatin, octreotide has been used for its antisecretory effects. Randomized control trials have established the efficacy of octreotide for malignant bowel obstruction and for chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. Octreotide has proven to be an effective agent for symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. Newer uses include for bone marrow transplantation, infectious diarrheal syndromes, and management of hepatic metastases. More evidence is needed for the establishment of its efficacy for hypercalcemia, pain, pleural effusions, diarrhea after celiac plexus block, and malignant ascites.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA. prommer.eric@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Eric E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Prommer
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015282:Octreotide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010166:Palliative Care
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D015282:Octreotide