Treatment of Endocrine Gastroenteropancreatic Tumors with Somatostatin Analogues
Abstract
Somatostatin is a hormone that regulates the function of several exocrine and endocrine glands.
The peptide mediates its actions via five different receptors.
These proteins are expressed in a tissue-specific manner.
Somatostatin receptors are also present in neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors.
Two long-acting somatostatin analogues, octreotide and lanreotide, are recognized by the receptor subtypes 2 and 5.
Excessive hormone secretion in carcinoid syndrome can be controlled by these drugs.
In addition, at least a subgroup of patients with carcinoid syndromes respond with delayed tumor growth during octreotide therapy.
In the future, the availability of the somatostatin receptor cDNAs will allow the development of specific and even more potent receptor analogues.
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