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Octreotide therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Wilco A Slijkhuis1, Linda Stadheim, Ziad M Hassoun
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
|March 11, 2005
Summary
Long-acting octreotide showed limited benefit for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While some patients achieved stable disease, overall survival and time to tumor progression were not significantly improved in this pilot study.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Medicine
- Medical Oncology
Background:
- Treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited.
- Octreotide's efficacy in HCC therapy is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of long-acting octreotide (Sandostatin LAR) in patients with advanced HCC.
- To assess tumor response, progression, and survival in HCC patients treated with octreotide.
Main Methods:
- An open-label pilot study involving 30 patients with advanced HCC.
- Patients received initial short-acting octreotide for tolerability, followed by 30 mg long-acting octreotide intramuscularly every 4-6 weeks.
- Tumor progression was assessed every 3 months over a 2-year period.
Main Results:
- Of 24 patients completing treatment, most had advanced disease characteristics (multifocal-massive morphology, vascular thrombosis, extrahepatic spread).
- Median time to tumor progression was 3.6 months; median survival was 5.1 months.
- Seven patients (29%) achieved stable disease, with two maintaining stability for 24 months. Diarrhea was the main side effect.
Conclusions:
- Long-acting octreotide therapy demonstrated limited overall benefit for advanced HCC in terms of tumor progression and survival.
- Occasional patients may experience disease stability, suggesting a potential subset of responders.
- Further research is needed to identify predictive markers for octreotide response in HCC.