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Somatuline Depot injection reduces liver volume in polycystic liver disease

In the LOCKCYST I clinical trial, a low dose of Somatuline Depot injection for the treatment of polycystic liver disease was found to be safe and effective, according to published findings. 

Researchers conducted a prospective study at two tertiary medical centers in Belgium with 59 patients with symptomatic polycystic liver disease (PCLD), where each patient was given 90 mg of Somatuline Depot injection (lanreotide, Ipsen Pharma) every 4 weeks for 6 months, with a goal of reducing liver volume by more than 100 mL.

If patients showed signs of reduced liver volume, they continued to receive 90 mg of lanreotide for another year, whereas those who did not respond to treatment received increased doses, up to 120 mg of lanreotide, for another year. Of the 59 patients, 53 completed the study and were included in the final analysis.

Overall, 40% of patients responded to the 90 mg of lanreotide at 6 months (n = 21). Ninety-percent of these responders continued the same treatment regimen through 18 months (n = 19). At 18 months, patients showed a mean reduction in absolute liver volume of 430 ± 92 mL.

“The use of a lower [lanreotide] dose is attractive for several reasons: increased incidence of side effects with increasing dose with [lanreotide], the need for long-term administration since interruption of retreatment results in a recurrence of the [liver volume] and complaints, and finally the high cost of the drug,” the researchers wrote.

In patients who did not respond to 90 mg of therapy at 6 months (n = 32), liver volume increased by a mean volume of 120 ± 42 mL. However, after increased dosages in 24 patients who continued through 18 months, no further increase was observed.

All patients had decreased scores on all subscales of the PCLD-specific complaint assessment, including better food intake (P = .04). Patients did not shown a mean change in subcutaneous or visceral fat mass, but did have decreases in mean body weight and total muscle mass (1.06 cm²/h²).

In addition, patients showed a large mean reduction in their level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (19% at baseline vs. 50% at 18 months; P = .002).

“[Forty-percent] of the patients had a long-term beneficial effect with [lanreotide at] 90 mg,” the researchers concluded. “Dose escalation to [lanreotide] 120 mg in nonresponders was effective in terms of diseases stabilization. Weight loss and muscle wasting in PCLD patients under [somatostatin analogue] treatment needs further investigation.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosure: Temmerman reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.