title: Long-acting octreotide as secondary prevention of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea: proof of concept.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to investigate the role of Octreotide LAR in secondary prevention in patients with chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, patients experiencing CID ≥ grade 2 received 30 mg long-acting octreotide as a monthly injection and the next chemotherapy dose was administrated with a 25% dose decrease. If no CID ≥ grade 2 occurred, subsequent chemotherapy doses were increased to the initial 100% values. The primary endpoint of the study was the diarrhea control rate (< grade 2) for patients receiving the optimal dose of chemotherapy for a minimum of 2 cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients were included. Ten patients experienced no improvement or ended the study very early after the first injection of octreotide LAR. Nineteen patients had a reduction in the grade of diarrhea after the first administration of Octreotide LAR and a reduced chemotherapy dose. Seven of them (24%) did not reach the end of the study because of disease progression (6) or lost in follow-up (1). Ultimately 12 patients (41%) continued the study till the end. In ten of these twelve patients, there was a significant and persisting reduction of diarrhea while receiving full dose chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that monthly injections with long-acting octreotide might be used as a secondary prevention of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. Its usefulness and optimal dosage in secondary prevention in combination with antidiarrheal agents needs further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of medical oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium - bert.vandenheuvel@uza.be.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: VAN DEN Heuvel
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hendlisz
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: VAN DEN Eynde
authors.forename: Godelieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machiels
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dero
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geboes
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DE Man
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delaunoit
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monsaert
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanderstraten
authors.forename: Jean L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: VAN Laethem
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lybaert
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holbrechts
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rolfo