Effect of octreotide in the prevention of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

OBJECTIVE A precise method for prevention from doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is not known. We examined whether octreotide has a protective effect against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. METHODS New Zealand rabbits (n=44) were divided into 4 groups according to drugs given: Group A (n=12) doxorubicin and octreotide, Group B (n=12) only doxorubicin, Group C (n=10) only octreotide and Group D (n=10) only saline. Effects of the drugs were evaluated in terms of histopathological score, fractional shortening (FS) and prolongation of the QTc interval. RESULTS Mean pathological score for cardiotoxicity (Group A: 3.7+/-0.5, Group B: 3.9+/-0.3), prolongation of QTc (Group A: from 244.5+/-21.2 ms to 282.9+/-25.9 ms, p<0.0001; Group B: from 248.5+/-17.7 ms to 298.3+/-13.7 ms, p<0.00001) and the rate of decrease in FS (Group A: from 34.4+/-2.0 to 28.0+/-2.0, p<0.05; Group B: from 35.1+/-1.9 to 24.8+/-1.3, p<0.05) were higher in Group B when compared to Group A, but only difference in the rate of decrease in FS was statistically significant (p<0.001). None of these variables changed significantly in groups C and D. CONCLUSION In this preliminary study, octreotide seems not to reduce doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. On the other hand, a consistent tendency of decreased cardiotoxicity in octreotide+doxorubicin group was observed, although only the difference in FS decrease was significant. Further investigations are needed to address the issue of the extent and the mechanisms of this effect.