OBJECTIVE

The effectiveness and improvement in quality of life (QOL) of a long-acting formulation of octreotide (LAR) administration for cancer patients, with chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea not attributed to medical therapy, were investigated.

METHODS

Twenty-nine patients with chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea were enrolled to receive octreotide LAR at a starting dose of 30 mg i.m. every 28 days until resolution of the diarrhea for a period of 3 months.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients (79.3%) administered octreotide LAR achieved resolution of diarrhea, while six patients (20.7%) successfully controlled their diarrhea during the study. All patients experienced improved sodium, potassium, albumin and total protein values with improvement in their QOL, as assessed by the Linear Analog Scale Assessment (LASA) (mean values at baseline and at 3 months: energy: 3.2+/-1.1 vs. 6.2+/-1.4; function: 3.1+/-1.3 vs. 6.2+/-1.2; QOL: 3.2+/-0.9 vs. 6.1+/-1.4). No toxicities associated with the administration of octreotide LAR were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of octreotide LAR at a starting dose of 30 mg i.m. every 28 days efficiently resolved or controlled chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea, not caused by medical intervention, in cancer patients and improved their QOL.