Somatostatin receptor type 2 gene expression in neuroblastoma, measured by competitive RT-PCR, is related to patient survival and to somatostatin receptor imaging by indium -111-pentetreotide
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We previously reported that human neuroblastoma cell lines and primary neuroblastoma tumors expressed a variable amount of mRNA for type 2 somatostatin (sst2) receptor gene. We also found that high level of sst2 expression were positively related to patient survival.
PROCEDURE: We studied retrospectively 49 primary neuroblastomas. To detect and measure sst2 mRNA expression we developed a quantitative RT-PCR based on competitive PCR. When possible the number of MYCN copies was also measured with competitive PCR. RESULTS;. We found that the lowest level of sst2 mRNA was detected in advanced stages of neuroblastomas (stage IV) when compared with the other stages (P<0.005). Patients with high levels of sst2 expression (>7 x 10(7) molecules/microg RNA) had a cumulative survival better than those with low sst2 expression (P<0.0005). This predictive independent value of sst2 (P= 0.005) is retained after stratification for N-myc amplification. Finally we verified that the ex vivo sst2 gene expression in tumor samples was positively related (P<0.01) to the in vivo semiquantitative determination of sst2 protein, assessed by 111In-pentetreotide imaging.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the measurement of sst2 mRNA measurement could represent a relevant tool in the prediction of neuroblastoma outcome, independently from MYCN amplification.
See also:
- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;
- Somatostatin in oncology, the overlooked evidences - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Publication, 2018 Jul: Over-Expression of GH/GHR in Breast Cancer and Oncosuppressor Role of Somatostatin as a Physiological Inhibitor (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- 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);
- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of somatostatin, curcumin, and quercetin on the fatty acid profile of breast cancer cell membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2020 Sep: Two neuroendocrine G protein-coupled receptor molecules, somatostatin and melatonin: Physiology of signal transduction and therapeutic perspectives (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Bromocriptine and/or Cabergoline);
- 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;