Octreotide in Preventing Diarrhea in Patients Who Are Undergoing Radiation Therapy to the Pelvis

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed cancer in the pelvis
• Plan to receive continuous definitive or adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy to the pelvis or pelvis and para-aortic lymph nodes (total planned dose of 4,500-5,350 cGy)
• * Entire pelvis must be encompassed by planned radiotherapy field (superior border not inferior to the most inferior aspect of sacroiliac joints)
• * Portions of rectum may have special blocking depending on disease site
• * Planned treatment for once-daily radiotherapy 4-5 times a week (planned daily dose 170-210 cGy)
• * No planned split-course radiotherapy
• * No planned interstitial brachytherapy prior to completion of external-beam radiotherapy
• * Planned intracavitary radiotherapy allowed
• * No planned cytotoxic chemotherapy agents concurrently with radiotherapy except fluorouracil with or without leucovorin calcium or cisplatin
• * Entered on study before the third radiotherapy fraction
• No current or prior metastases beyond pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes
• No grade 3 or greater diarrhea, rectal bleeding, or abdominal cramping prior to radiotherapy
• No incontinence of stool
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Renal:
• No chronic renal failure
• Creatinine less than 2 times upper limit of normal (for patients with history of renal disease)
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No known allergy to octreotide
• No history of inflammatory bowel disease
• No other concurrent medical condition that would preclude study participation
• No history of cholecystitis unless prior cholecystectomy
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy to the pelvis
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior abdominal-perineal resection, Hartmann procedure, or other surgical procedure resulting in non-functioning rectum