Som230, A New Somatostatin Analog, Is Highly Effective In The Therapy Of Gh/Prl-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas Spontaneously Developing In Transgenic Mice Overexpressing The Hmga2 Gene

We used HMGA2 transgenic mice to test the effect of SOM230 on the growth of GH/PRL secreting pituitary adenomas. Three groups of 9 months-old HMGA2 transgenic mice were treated for 3 months with a continuous s.c. injection of SOM230, octreotide and a placebo, respectively. SOM230 significantly affected the tumor progression and induced a partial regression of the tumor. In contrast, the octreotide significantly slows down the progression of the tumor without inducing regression. These results indicate a therapeutic role of SOM230 on pituitary adenomas secreting GH and PRL and open the perspective of a therapy of human pituitary adenomas secreting PRL and/or GH based on SOM230 administration.