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Context: The MPOWERED core trial (NCT02685709) and open-label extension (OLE) phase investigated long-term efficacy and safety of oral octreotide capsules (OOC) in patients with acromegaly. Core trial primary endpoint data demonstrated noninferiority to injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (iSRLs). Core trial completers were invited to participate in the OLE phase., Objective: To assess long-term efficacy and safety of OOC in patients with acromegaly who previously responded to and tolerated both OOC and injectable octreotide/lanreotide and completed the core phase., Methods: The unique study design of transitioning between OOC and iSRLs allowed within-patient evaluations. The proportion of biochemical responders (insulin-like growth factor I < 1.3 × upper limit of normal) at end of each extension year who entered that year as responders was the main outcome measure., Results: At year 1 extension end, 52/58 patients from both the monotherapy and the combination therapy groups were responders (89.7%; 95% CI 78.8-96.1), 36/41 (87.8%; 95% CI 73.8-95.9) in year 2, and 29/31 (93.5%; 95% CI 78.6-99.2) in year 3. No new or unexpected safety signals were detected; 1 patient withdrew owing to treatment failure. Patients who transitioned from iSRLs in the core trial to OOC in the OLE phase reported improved treatment convenience/satisfaction and symptom control., Conclusion: Patient-reported outcome data support for the first time that transitioning patients randomized to iSRL (who previously responded to both OOC and iSRLs) back to OOC had a significant effect on patients' symptoms score in a prospective cohort. The MPOWERED OLE showed long-term maintenance of response and sustained safety with OOC., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)

Purpose: Results are presented from 2 to 3 trials investigating oral octreotide capsules (OOC) as an alternative to injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (iSRLs) in the treatment of acromegaly., Methods: CH-ACM-01 was an open-label trial (N = 155) and CHIASMA OPTIMAL was a double-blind placebo-controlled (DPC) trial (N = 56), both investigating OOC as maintenance therapy for patients with acromegaly who were biochemical responders receiving iSRLs., Results: Baseline characteristics in both trials reflected those expected of patients with acromegaly responding to treatment and were similar between trials, despite differences in inclusion criteria. OOC demonstrated a consistent degree of biochemical response across trials, with 65% of patients in CH-ACM-01 maintaining response during the core period and 64% of patients in CHIASMA OPTIMAL at the end of the DPC. Mean insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels remained within inclusion criteria at the end of treatment in both trials. Of 110 patients entering the fixed-dose phase in CH-ACM-01, 80% maintained or improved acromegaly symptoms from baseline to the end of treatment. Over 85% of patients in both trials elected to continue into the extension phases. OOC were found to be well tolerated across both trials, and no dose-related adverse events were observed., Conclusions: OOC demonstrated remarkably consistent results for biochemical response, durability of response, and preference to continue with oral treatment across these 2 complementary landmark phase 3 trials, despite differences in the design of each. Trial registration NCT03252353 (August 2017), NCT01412424 (August 2011)., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Medical treatment for acromegaly commonly involves receiving intramuscular or deep subcutaneous injections of somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) in most patients. In addition to side effects of treatment, acromegaly patients often still experience disease symptoms even when therapy is successful in controlling GH and IGF-1 levels. Symptoms and side effects can negatively impact patients' health-related quality of life. In this study, we examine the disease- and treatment-related burden associated with SRL injections as reported through the use of the Acromegaly Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (Acro-TSQ © ) and clinician-reported symptom severity through the Acromegaly Index of Severity (AIS). Patients included in this analysis were enrolled in a randomized phase 3 study, were biochemically-controlled (an IGF-1 < 1.3 × the upper limit of normal [ULN] and average GH < 2.5 ng/ml) and receiving SRL injections for ≥6 months with a stable dose of either long-acting octreotide or lanreotide monotherapy for ≥4 months. The sample (N = 91) was 65% female, 91% Caucasian, with a mean [standard deviation (SD)] age of 53 (1) years. Two-thirds of patients reported that they still experience acromegaly symptoms; 82% of these said they experience symptoms all of the time. Three-fourths experienced gastrointestinal (GI) side effects after injections, and 77% experienced treatment-related injection site reactions (ISRs). Patients commonly reported that these interfered with their daily life, leisure, and work activities. Those with higher symptom severity, as measured by the AIS, scored significantly worse on several Acro-TSQ domains: Symptom Interference, GI Interference, Treatment Satisfaction, and Emotional Reaction. Despite being biochemically controlled with injectable SRLs, most patients reported experiencing acromegaly symptoms that interfere with daily life, leisure, and work. GI side effects and ISRs were also common. This study highlights the significant disease burden that still persists for patients with acromegaly that have achieved biochemical control with the use of injectable SRLs., Competing Interests: MF has received research support from Chiasma, Crinetics, Ionis, Novartis, and Recordati and is a scientific consultant to Chiasma, Crinetics, Ionis, Ipsen, Novartis, Pfizer, and Recordati. MG has received research support from Chiasma, Corcerpt, Camurus, Crinetics, Ipsen, Novartis, OPKO, Pfizer, Strongbridge, Teva, and Novo Nordisk and is a scientific consultant to Chiasma and Novo Nordisk. MM has received research support from Chiasma, Crinetics, Ionis, and Novartis, and is a consultant to Chiasma, Pfizer, and Merck. WL, AH, and YG-S are employed by and own stock in Chiasma, Inc. SM is an employee of Health Outcomes Solutions (HOS), which received funding from Chiasma, Inc. for conducting these analyses. RC is a consultant to HOS, which received funding from Chiasma, Inc. for conducting these analyses. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Fleseriu, Molitch, Dreval, Biermasz, Gordon, Crosby, Ludlam, Haviv, Gilgun-Sherki and Mathias.)

The 13th Acromegaly Consensus Conference was held in November 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and comprised acromegaly experts including endocrinologists and neurosurgeons who considered optimal approaches for multidisciplinary acromegaly management. Focused discussions reviewed techniques, results, and side effects of surgery, radiotherapy, and medical therapy, and how advances in technology and novel techniques have changed the way these modalities are used alone or in combination. Effects of treatment on patient outcomes were considered, along with strategies for optimizing and personalizing therapeutic approaches. Expert consensus recommendations emphasize how best to implement available treatment options as part of a multidisciplinary approach at Pituitary Tumor Centers of Excellence.

Purpose: The phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial (NCT03252353) evaluated efficacy and safety of oral octreotide capsules (OOCs) in patients with acromegaly who previously demonstrated biochemical control while receiving injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs)., Methods: In this double-blind study, patients (N = 56) stratified by prior SRL dose were randomly assigned 1:1 to OOC or placebo for 36 weeks. The primary end point was maintenance of biochemical control at the end of treatment (mean insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1] ≤ 1.0 × upper limit of normal [ULN]; weeks 34 and 36). Time to loss of IGF-1 response and proportion requiring reversion to injectable SRLs were assessed as broader control measures., Results: Mean IGF-1 measurements were 0.80 and 0.97 × ULN for OOC and 0.84 and 1.69 × ULN for placebo, at baseline and end of treatment, respectively. Mean growth hormone (GH) changed from 0.66 to 0.60 ng/mL for OOCs and 0.90 to 2.57 ng/mL for placebo. Normalization of IGF-1 levels (≤ 1.0 × ULN) was maintained in 58.2% for OOCs vs 19.4% for placebo (P = .008); GH levels were maintained (< 2.5 ng/mL) in 77.7% for OOC vs 30.4% for placebo (P = .0007). Median time to loss of response (IGF-1 > 1.0 or ≥ 1.3 × ULN definitions) for patients receiving placebo was 16 weeks; for patients receiving OOCs, it was not reached for both definitions during the 36-week trial (P < .0001). Of the patients in the OOC group, 75% completed the trial on oral therapy. The OOC safety profile was consistent with previous SRL experience., Conclusions: OOCs may be an effective therapy for patients with acromegaly who previously were treated with injectable SRLs., (© Endocrine Society 2020.)

Lanreotide depot (LD; commercial name Somatuline(®) Depot) is an injectable, extended-release formulation of the synthetic somatostatin analog (SSA) lanreotide. In recent clinical trials, LD was found to be suitable for self or partner administration, avoiding the need to travel to a medical facility. The Somatuline(®) Depot for Acromegaly (SODA) study is an ongoing, multicenter, observational study in the US investigating the efficacy, safety, convenience and symptom relief provided by LD in patients with acromegaly. Sub-analyses explore outcomes according to who administered the injection: patient, partner, healthcare provider (HCP) or a combination. Data reported here reflect one year of patient experience. Patients are eligible for inclusion if they have a diagnosis of acromegaly, are treated with LD and can give signed informed consent. Baseline data include patient demographics, previous acromegaly treatment and investigations, GH and IGF-I levels, LD dose and dose adjustment frequency. Symptom frequency, injection pain and treatment convenience are assessed using patient-reported questionnaires. As of 18 April 2012, 166 patients had enrolled in SODA. Most (72 %) achieved normal IGF-I levels after 12 months of LD treatment. Disease control was similar in self or partner injectors and in patients who received injections from their HCP, although self or partner injecting was deemed more convenient. LD was well-tolerated irrespective of who performed the injection. Self injection led to more injection-site reactions, but this did not increase the rate of treatment interruption. Acromegaly symptoms remained stable. Biochemical, safety and convenience data support the clinical validity of injecting LD at home.

Objective: The Acromegaly Consensus Group reconvened in November 2007 to update guidelines for acromegaly management., Participants: The meeting participants comprised 68 pituitary specialists, including neurosurgeons and endocrinologists with extensive experience treating patients with acromegaly. EVIDENCE/CONSENSUS PROCESS: Goals of treatment and the appropriate imaging and biochemical and clinical monitoring of patients with acromegaly were enunciated, based on the available published evidence., Conclusions: The group developed a consensus on the approach to managing acromegaly including appropriate roles for neurosurgery, medical therapy, and radiation therapy in the management of these patients.

The effects of octreotide (up to 5 yr) as primary treatment in 26 patients with acromegaly were compared with those in 81 patients with acromegaly who received octreotide as secondary or adjunctive therapy after previous surgery and/or pituitary radiation. These patients were part of a multicenter study that took place between 1989-1995. The study was divided into 3 phases beginning with a 1-month placebo-controlled treatment period followed by a 1-month washout period. In the second phase, patients were randomized to treatment with either 100 or 250 micrograms octreotide, sc, every 8 h for 6 months. Octreotide was then discontinued for 1 month and reinitiated at the lower dose for a total mean treatment duration of 39 months. The dose was titrated by each investigator to improve each patient's individual response, which included improvement in symptoms and signs of acromegaly as well as reduction of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) into the normal range. In the second phase of the study, in which patients were randomized to either 100 or 250 micrograms octreotide, three times daily, mean integrated GH and IGF-I concentrations after 3 and 6 months were equivalent in the primary and secondary treatment groups. During long term open label treatment, mean GH fell from 32.7 +/- 5.2 to 6.0 +/- 1.7 micrograms/L 2 h after octreotide injection in the primary therapy group and remained suppressed for a mean period of 24 months (range, 3-60 months). The mean final daily dose was 777 micrograms. In the patients receiving secondary treatment, mean GH fell from 30.2 +/- 7.6 to 5.6 +/- 1.1 micrograms/L after 3 months and remained suppressed for the remainder of the study (average dose, 635 micrograms daily). Mean IGF-I concentrations fell from 5.2 +/- 0.5 x 10(3) U/L (primary treatment group) and 4.7 +/- 0.4 x 10(3) U/L (secondary treatment group) to a mean of 2.2 +/- 0.3 x 10(3) U/L in both groups after 3 months of open label treatment and remained suppressed. IGF-I was reduced into the normal range during at least half of the study visits in 68% of the primary treatment group and in 62% of the secondary treatment group. Patients whose GH levels fell to at least 2 SD below the baseline mean GH were considered responders. There was no significant difference in the percentage of responders in the primary and secondary treatment groups (70% vs. 61%), nor was there a statistical difference in the mean GH concentrations between the groups. Symptoms of headache, increased perspiration, fatigue, and joint pain were reported at baseline by 46%, 73%, 69%, and 85%, respectively, of patients in the primary therapy group and improved during 3 yr of octreotide treatment in 50-100%. Similarly, these acromegaly-related symptoms were reported by 62%, 58%, 78%, and 60% of patients in the secondary therapy group, and improvement was noted in 62-88%. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging scans were available in 13 of 26 patients in the primary treatment group before and after 6 months of octreotide treatment. Tumor shrinkage was observed in 6 of 13 patients, with reduction in tumor volume greater than 25% in only 3. Of 6 patients with documented tumor shrinkage, IGF-I was reduced into the normal range in 4 patients. Of the 7 remaining patients in whom tumor shrinkage was less than 10%, IGF-I was reduced into the normal range in 4 patients. Of the 7 remaining patients in whom tumor shrinkage was less than 10%, IGF-I was reduced into the normal range in 5 patients. The degree of tumor shrinkage did not correlate with the percent reduction in IGF-I or GH. In summary, octreotide was equally effective in 26 previously untreated acromegalic patients (primary treatment group) and 81 patients previously treated with either surgery or pituitary radiation (secondary treatment group). These observations call into question the current practice of surgical resection of all newly diagnosed GH-secreting pituitary adenomas regardless of the likelihood of cure. (AB

One hundred and three acromegalic patients from 14 medical centers were enrolled in this study to determine the efficacy and safety of the somatostatin analog, octreotide acetate, during long term treatment. Seventy percent of the patients had undergone previous surgery or radiation treatment. Octreotide was initiated at a dose of 100 micrograms, sc, every 8 h and gradually increased to a maximum of 1500 micrograms daily depending upon the individual patient's clinical and biochemical response [GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) reduction]. The mean duration of treatment was 24 months (range, 3-30 months). However, most patients were treated for a mean of 30 months, because this study took place after an initial 6-month study previously reported. Mean serum GH fell from 30.9 micrograms/L (range, 2.7-350) to 5.7 micrograms/L (range, 0.6-59) at the 3 months visit and remained suppressed (P < 0.001). Plasma IGF-I concentrations were also significantly reduced and remained in the normal range for at least half of the treatment visits in 56 of 87 patients (64%) treated for 12-30 months. Patients with higher initial GH concentrations were less likely to normalize IGF-I concentrations during treatment (P < 0.001). There was no evidence of drug tachyphylaxis in those patients who continued taking stable doses of medication. With some exceptions, dose increments above 800 micrograms daily in 31 patients did not provide additional benefit in terms of GH and IGF-I reduction. Headache, excessive perspiration, fatigue, and joint pain were ameliorated in 83-95% of patients. Mean finger circumference was decreased significantly at the 12 month visit (P < 0.05). The most common adverse events reported were diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, loose stools, and nausea; these symptoms usually disappeared within 3 months of treatment. Five patients discontinued octreotide because of adverse events. Of 102 patients with normal baseline ultrasound examinations of the gallbladder, 24 patients (23.5%) developed gallstones (usually during the first year of treatment), and 21 patients developed sludge alone. Gallstone formation was not related to the dose of octreotide. Most patients with cholelithiasis were asymptomatic, and none developed cholecystitis. These observations suggest that octreotide is a valuable long term medical treatment for acromegaly.

Objective: To determine the effects of the somatostatin analog, octreotide acetate, in patients with acromegaly., Design: Double-blind, randomized trial., Setting: Fourteen university-affiliated medical centers., Patients: One hundred fifteen acromegalic patients, 70% of whom had persistent disease after pituitary surgery or radiotherapy., Intervention: Subcutaneous octreotide, 100 micrograms, or placebo every 8 hours for 4 weeks. Four weeks after the end of treatment, patients were randomized to receive 100 or 250 micrograms octreotide subcutaneously every 8 hours for 6 months., Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, a single 100-micrograms injection reduced mean serum growth hormone (GH) to 30% of the pretreatment concentration within 2 hours. The integrated mean GH level was reduced over 8 hours from 39 +/- 11 micrograms/L to 9 +/- 2 micrograms/L (P less than 0.001). Mean plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was reduced from 5100 +/- 400 U/L to 2400 +/- 400 U/L (P less than 0.001). After 6 months, the mean GH was reduced from 39 +/- 13 to 15 +/- 4 micrograms/L by 300 micrograms of octreotide and from 29 +/- 5 micrograms/L to 9 +/- 2 micrograms/L by 750 micrograms of octreotide daily. The mean IGF-1 concentration was suppressed to 2100 +/- 300 and 2500 +/- 400 U/L after 300 and 750 micrograms octreotide, respectively. Integrated mean GH levels were reduced to < 5 micrograms/L in 53% (95% CI, 39% to 67%) and 49% (CI, 35% to 63%), and IGF-1 levels were normal in 68% (CI, 54% to 82%) and 55% (CI, 40% to 70%) of patients receiving low- and high-dose octreotide, respectively. A substantial decrease in headache, amount of perspiration, joint pain, and finger circumference occurred in two thirds of the patients. The pituitary size was reduced in 19% (CI, 5% to 33%) and 37% (CI, 22% to 52%) of patients receiving 6 months of low- and high-dose octreotide, respectively. Ten percent and 13% of patients in each treatment group developed transient diarrhea; 10% and 14%, biliary sludge; and 6% and 18%, cholelithiasis, respectively., Conclusion: Octreotide effectively decreased GH and IGF-1 concentrations in 53% and 68% of patients, respectively. The higher dose resulted in increased frequency of tumor shrinkage but added no biochemical or clinical benefit.

Acromegaly is an uncommon disorder and may present in a variety of ways, leading to considerable delay in diagnosis. Unlike other pituitary tumors, tumors associated with acromegaly tend to be fairly large in most patients. Thus, symptoms may be commonly due to the tumor mass as well as to hormone oversecretion. Mortality is two- to threefold increased due to cardiovascular, respiratory, and neoplastic causes. An increase in diabetes mellitus and hypertension may contribute to the first of these. Early treatment may reverse the diabetes, soft tissue changes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and neuromuscular disease. The effect of early treatment on neoplasia is unclear, and patients probably should continue to be screened, especially for colon neoplasia, even after appropriate therapy for the acromegaly. Hypopituitarism may be present initially as a result of tumor mass but may also develop as a result of ablative therapy.

Seven patients with clinically active acromegaly who had not responded completely to previous surgical or radiation therapy were treated with bromocriptine. Bromocriptine was well tolerated; only one of the seven patients discontinued treatment secondary to side effects. Six of the seven patients improved during bromocriptine therapy, although GH levels were normalized in only two patients. All patients had elevated levels of somatomedin C (Sm-C) before therapy even when basal levels of GH were less than 10 ng/ml. One patient normalized both GH and Sm-C during bromocriptine therapy and had an excellent clinical response. Five patients had moderately good clinical responses; four of these patients had substantial falls in GH levels, but Sm-C levels fell minimally if at all in four and actually increased in one patient. In one patient, there was no change in clinical status, GH levels, or Sm-C levels. Thus, the clinical response did not correlate well with changes in Sm-C in most patients. The patterns of response to provocative stimuli of GH secretion in acromegaly were maintained during bromocriptine therapy, as has been previously been reported. Based on our experience, bromocriptine appears to be a useful adjunct in the therapy of acromegaly, even in patients who have had prior ablative therapy.

Twenty-nine patients with acromegaly (8 untreated and 21 previously treated in various ways) and 16 normal men were given iv bolus doses of human pancreatic tumor GH-releasing factor (hpGRF-40). Twenty-five of the 29 patients responded to hpGRF-40 with elevations of plasma GH. The magnitude of the responses varied widely. Responses of untreated patients were generally similar to those of the normal subjects. Previously treated patients had a significantly lower response than normal individuals [change in GH, 7.5 +/- 1.8 vs. 42.0 +/- 11.0 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM); P less than 0.01], and 4 patients who had received radiation therapy failed to respond to hpGRF-40. There was no significant correlation between the magnitude of the response and patients' age, sex, baseline GH levels, GH responsiveness of TRH, or GH suppression after oral glucose administration. Patients studied both pre- and postoperatively were responsive to hpGRF-40 at all times tested, but the magnitude of the response decreased after successful surgical removal of the adenoma. Thus, most patients with treated or untreated acromegaly respond to hpGRF-40, but their responses do not clearly distinguish them from normal subjects. GH-releasing hormone testing is unlikely to replace other endocrine tests available for the diagnosis and evaluation of acromegaly.

The 'empty' sells syndrome is now a more frequent diagnosis due to the increased use of pneumoencephalography in the evaluation of the enlarged pituitary fossa. This syndrome has also been classified into a 'primary' form in which there has been no prior pituitary irradiation or surgery, and a 'secondary' form in which the empty sella is found after such procedures. Most patients with the primary empty sella syndrome are found to have normal pituitary function while about 30% have varying degrees of hypopituitarism (Neelon et al., 1973). It is not widely appreciated, however, that the primary empty sella may harbour a pituitary tumour with resultant acromegaly. In this report we describe two such patients who presented with active acromegaly. This entity of pituitary tumour in a primary empty sella merits careful consideration since the coexistence of these two findings may influence the therapeutic approach that might otherwise be appropriate for the pituitary tumour.

To determine whether GRH stimulates PRL secretion we studied the effects of iv bolus injections and prolonged infusions of GRH 1-40-OH on PRL and GH serum levels in normal volunteers. Eight patients with acromegaly, two of whom had elevated basal levels of PRL, were also tested with single bolus injections. Six normal subjects given 3.3 micrograms/kg bolus injections of GRH showed a mean increment of GH of 22.0 +/- 1.7 ng/ml (mean +/- SE). A small rise in PRL was noted in 5 of the 6 subjects (mean peak level of 6.4 +/- 1.9 ng/ml vs basal level of 3.3 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, p less than 0.05). During the continuous intusion of GRH (10 ng/kg/min), GH levels rose gradually from a mean baseline of 1.1 +/- 0.1 ng/ml to a mean peak of 30.0 +/- 7.2 ng/ml at about 2 h and then slowly declined to a nadir of 4.2 +/- 0.4 ng/ml at 330 min. PRL levels did not rise significantly during the infusion. To determine whether the decline in GH levels in the face of continued infusion was due to loss of GH responsiveness, a 3.3 micrograms/kg bolus of GRH was given during the nadir at 330 min; this GH increment was significantly less than that obtained by the GRH bolus injection without the infusion (12.9 +/- 3.5 ng/ml vs 22.0 +/- 1.7 ng/ml, p less than 0.05). The PRL response to the GRH bolus was the same during the infusion of GRH as before. In each of 8 acromegalic patients (including two who had initially elevated basal PRL levels) GRH led to an increase in both GH and PRL levels. PRL and GH levels spontaneously fluctuated in parallel in 4 acromegalic cases studied with repeated samples over 6 h during placebo administration. These experiments show that GRH has significant, though weak, PRF effect in normals and that it is more potent PRF in acromegalic patients. Furthermore, the effects on GH and PRL of a sustained infusion of GRH for 5 1/2 h are both qualitatively and quantitatively different. These results suggest that the GRH effect is exerted either on different pituitary receptors for GH and PRL regulation, or that the releasable pools of the two hormones have different sizes and/or turnover times.