Growth hormone receptor overexpression predicts response of rectal cancers to pre-operative radiotherapy

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the possible role of Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR) expression pattern in determining rectal cancer radiosensitivity.

We examined GHR expression in pre-treatment biopsy materials and post-operative specimens from 98 patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). GHR expression was evaluated for association with tumour radiosensitivity, which was defined according to Rectal Cancer Regression Grade (RCRG).

IHC results demonstrated that GHR overexpression was significantly associated with a poor response to radiotherapy (P < 0.001, r(s) = 0.399); RT-PCR detection of GHR expression on pre-radiation biopsy specimens also showed that GHR mRNA negative group had a higher radiation sensitivity (P < 0.001, r(s) = 0.398).

Compared with the pre-radiation biopsy specimens, the paired post-operative specimens showed a significantly up-regulated GHR expression in the reliquus cancer cells (P < 0.001).

In conclusion, GHR expression levels may be an indicator for rectal cancer radiosensitivity before pre-operative irradiation.

The administration of GHR antagonist may have the potential to increase rectal cancer radiosensitivity.

 

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- Publication, 2019 Aug: The Entrapment of Somatostatin in a Lipid Formulation: Retarded Release and Free Radical Reactivity (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of Somatostatin and Vitamin C on the Fatty Acid Profile of Breast Cancer Cell Membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);

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