COMMENTARY
See article on page 442
Octreotide in hepatocellular carcinoma
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
In this issue Kouroumalis et al (see page
442) report extended survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC) treated with octreotide, a somatostatin analogue. Somatostatin is
a cyclic peptide consisting of 14 amino acids which regulates growth
hormone release. It is the product of a multigene family of peptides
with two biological derivatives, namely somatostatin 14 and 28. Somatostatin regulates release of growth hormone, thyrotropin and acts
as an autocrine and paracrine molecule to suppress neurotransmission, immunocyte activity, smooth muscle contractility, and uptake of nutrients. (reviewed by Lamberts et al1).
Somatostatin action is mediated through a specific receptor (SSR).
Somatostatin suppresses pituitary and adrenal secretion of growth
hormone or thyrotropin after surgery, and inhibits secretory activity
of metastatic islet cell tumours such as vipoma, glucagonoma and
metastatic carcinoid. It has also been reported to be beneficial in
reducing splanchnic circulation and controlling bleeding from
oesophageal varices, suppression of fluid secretion by pancreatic
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Relevant Article
- Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with octreotide: a randomised controlled study
- E Kouroumalis, P Skordilis, K Thermos, A Vasilaki, J Moschandrea, and O N Manousos
Gut 1998 42: 442-447.[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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