ABSTRACT
Acromegaly and so-called neuroendocrine tumors (carcinoids, pancreatic endocrine tumors) are at present the only routine indications for somatostatin (SST) analogs therapy. However, the progress in the studies on somatostatin receptors (sst) and the development of the numerous new SST analog molecules, creates new possibilities of the therapeutic appli cations. These possibilities include: (1) the treatment of pituitary tumors other than those connected with acromegaly; (2) the treatment of non endocrine cancers, including so-called receptor-targeted chemotherapy; (3) the treatment of autoimmune/chronic inflammatory dis orders, including Graves’ ophtalmopathy and rheumatoid arthritis; and (4) the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and senile macular degeneration.
