Effects of octreotide on liver metastasis and intrametastatic lipid peroxidation in experimental pancreatic cancer

Objectives: In prospective clinical trials, octreotide improved the quality of life and survival time in patients with pancreatic cancer, in this stud y, we analyzed whether octreotide modulates the intrametastatic oxygen radi cal metabolism and might decrease liver metastasis in a model of pancreatic cancer. Methods: Syrian hamsters received 0.9% NaCl or N-nitrosobis(2-oxop ropyl)amine for 3 months, Therapy was performed for 12 weeks by 0.9% NaCl o r octreotide, Hamsters received a standard diet or were fed a high-fat diet , In the 25th week, pancreas and liver were examined macroscopically and hi stologically, The level of lipid peroxidation and the activity of glutathio ne peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were determined intrahepatically and intrametastatically, Results: The number and size of liver metastases per animal were increased by high-fat diet and decreased by octreotide. While h igh-fat diet increased intrahepatic extrametastatic lipid peroxidation, oct reotide decreased intrahepatic extrametastatic lipid peroxidation and incre ased intrametastatic lipid peroxidation. Conclusions: Octreotide decreases the number and size of liver metastases in chemically induced pancreatic ca ncer in Syrian hamsters, Possible mechanisms are the prevention of high lip id peroxidation in non-metastatic liver as well as the increase in intramet astatic lipid peroxidation, leading to loss of integrity of spread tumor ce lls, Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.