Does Sandostatin shrink or slow tumor growth?

There is some evidence that Sandostatin (octreotide acetate) can shrink or slow the growth of certain types of tumors, but more research is needed to confirm this and determine which patients may benefit.

In a study testing the long-acting Sandostatin LAR Depot on patients with acromegaly, the 94 patients being followed experienced an average reduction in tumor volume of 24.5% and 36.2% at 24 weeks and 48 weeks of treatment, respectively.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) prescribing information for Sandostatin LAR Depot states that the goal of treatment is to normalize growth hormone levels.

For patients with carcinoid tumors and vasoactive intestinal peptide tumors (VIPomas), the FDA prescribing information states that it is undetermined whether Sandostatin and Sandostatin LAR Depot can prevent tumor growth or reduce tumor size. Sandostatin is intended to treat symptoms of these tumors rather than the tumors themselves.

However, there is some evidence to support the antitumor effects of Sandostatin. In phase III of the PROMID trial, which tested the impact of Sandostatin LAR Depot on patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors in the midgut, 66.7% of patients in the treatment group reached a stable disease state after 6 months, compared to 37.2% of patients in the placebo group.

Sandostatin and its long-acting formulation Sandostatin LAR Depot are approved by the FDA to treat symptoms such as flushing and diarrhea associated with certain types of tumors, including VIPomas and metastatic carcinoid tumors. These drugs can also be used to reduce growth hormone levels in the blood for patients with acromegaly.

Researchers suggest that newer data may change the way Sandostatin is used.