Expression of somatostatin receptors in peritumoral veins of human tumors

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The vascular system of the tumor bed plays an important function in tumor growth regulation. Recent studies have suggested that the vasoactive peptides somatostatin and substance P may have a potential role in the tumor bed of selected tumors.

METHODS: In the current study, somatostatin receptors were evaluated with in vitro receptor autoradiography using 125I-[Tyr3]-octreotide in the peritumoral vessels of a large group of 215 primary human tumors and 25 metastases of various tumor origin, with particular emphasis on receptor incidence, distribution, homogeneity, and density.

RESULTS: High affinity somatostatin receptors were found in the peritumoral veins of 22 of 22 gastric carcinomas, 25 of 39 breast carcinomas, 15 of 20 renal cell carcinomas, 14 of 27 prostate carcinomas, 4 of 10 endometrial carcinomas, 4 of 11 pancreatic adenocarcinomas, 4 of 13 nonsmall cell lung carcinomas, as well as in 3 of 4 parathyroid adenomas, 3 of 3 medullary thyroid carcinomas, 3 of 23 gastroenteropancreatic tumors, 14 of 25 soft tissue tumors, 3 of 5 melanomas but in none (0 of 13) of the ovarian carcinomas studied. In addition, somatostatin receptors were identified in veins surrounding lymph node, bone, and lung metastases of various tumor types. In all investigated tissues, receptors could not be identified in arteries. There was a considerable variability in the relative number of veins expressing somatostatin receptors and in the receptor density levels. Evidence of an overexpression of somatostatin receptors could be established in the peritumoral veins of gastric carcinoma when compared with the receptor expression in normal gastric vessels.

CONCLUSIONS: The expression of somatostatin receptors in peritumoral veins appears to be a general, tumor-related, but highly variable phenomenon. Although their pathophysiologic role is unclear, these receptors may be considered as novel targets for cancer diagnosis and therapy with somatostatin analogs.

 

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See also:

- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;

- Somatostatin in oncology, the overlooked evidences - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Somatostatin, Octreotide, Sandostatin LAR, analogues and/or derivatives);

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Calcium, 2 grams per day, orally);

- The Synergism of Somatostatin, Melatonin, Vitamins Prolactin and Estrogen Inhibitors Increased Survival, Objective Response and Performance Status In 297 Cases of Breast Cancer;

- Complete objective response, stable for 5 years, with the Di Bella Method, of multiple-metastatic carcinoma of the breast;

- Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment with somatostatin combined with melatonin, retinoids, vitamin D3, and low doses of cyclophosphamide in 20 cases of breast cancer: a preliminary report;

- The Di Bella Method (DBM) improved survival, objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 122 cases of breast cancer;

- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;

- Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (grade IV – WHO 2007): a case of complete objective response achieved by means of the concomitant administration of Somatostatin and Octreotide – Retinoids – Vitamin E – Vitamin D3 – Vitamin C – Melatonin – D2 R agonists (Di Bella Method – DBM) associated with Temozolomide;

- The Di Bella Method DBM improved survival objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 23 tumours of the head and neck;

- Somatostatin, retinoids, melatonin, vitamin D, bromocriptine, and cyclophosphamide in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with low performance status;

- Somatostatin, retinoids, melatonin, vitamin D, bromocriptine, and cyclophosphamide in chemotherapy-pretreated patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and low performance status;

- Observations on the Report of a case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with lymph node, hepatic and osseus metastasis;

- Neuroblastoma: Complete objective response to biological treatment;

- Oesophageal squamocellular carcinoma: a complete and objective response;

- Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: clinical records on 17 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;

- The Di Bella Method Increases by the 30% the survival rate for Pancreas tumors and for this reason should be proposed as first line therapy for this type of cancer;

- The Di Bella Method (DBM) in the treatment of prostate cancer: a preliminary retrospective study of 16 patients and a review of the literature;

- Congenital fibrosarcoma in complete remission with Somatostatin, Retinoids, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Melatonin, Calcium, Chondroitin sulfate associated with low doses of Cyclophosphamide in a 14-year Follow Up.