Abstract: The invention describes a method and composition for treating obesity or related disorders in animals using an anorectic agent and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The composition effectively diminishes caloric intake, may alter metabolism, weight gain, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with aberrant expression of a somatostatin receptor (e.g., cancer) or with increased production of a factor regulatable by somatostatin (e.g., acromegaly). The compounds of the invention are of the general formulae: ##STR1## wherein P is a somatostatin peptide analog which binds to a somatostatin receptor,Y is D-tyrosine, L-tyrosine, or desamino-tyrosine,n is an integer from 1 to 32, inclusive,each q, independently, is an integer from 1 to 32, inclusive, and each s, independently, is an integer from 1 to 32, inclusive, where q and s can be the same or different, andX is of the formulaD--NH.sub.2 --CH(CH.sub.2).sub.m NH.sub.2 --CO.sub.2 H orL--NH.sub.2 --CH(CH.sub.2).sub.m NH.sub.2 --CO.sub.2 H,wherein m is an integer from 1 to 10, inclusive.