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Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences 9/2008

01-09-2008 | Review Paper

Mechanisms of Action and Resistance of Somatostatin Analogues for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Message Not Well Taken

Authors: Dimitrios N. Samonakis, George Notas, Nikolaos Christodoulakis, Elias A. Kouroumalis

Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 9/2008

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Abstract

Somatostatin (SST) acts as an inhibitory peptide of various secretory and proliferative processes. Apart from neuroendocrine tumors, where SST analogues have an established role, they have been tested in other tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the view of the fact that chemotherapy is not working. Several positive reports have been published. Approximately 40% of patients respond with improved survival and an impressive quality of life. A usual misunderstanding in trial designs is that, although SST is not a rescue drug, selection of patients is inappropriate, with mostly moribund patients being recruited. SST analogues do not seem to work in 60% of HCCs and this has been linked to the presence of SST receptors (SSTR) in the tumor, while several resistance mechanisms might be involved. Future management should engage more specific SST analogues targeted to a tumor with a known SSTR map. The use of somatostatin analogues as an adjunct therapy in combination with other treatment modalities should also be investigated.
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Metadata
Title
Mechanisms of Action and Resistance of Somatostatin Analogues for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Message Not Well Taken
Authors
Dimitrios N. Samonakis
George Notas
Nikolaos Christodoulakis
Elias A. Kouroumalis
Publication date
01-09-2008
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Digestive Diseases and Sciences / Issue 9/2008
Print ISSN: 0163-2116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2568
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-007-0175-9

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