Abstract
Somatostatin is an endogeneous cyclic tetradecapeptide hormone that exerts multiple biological activities via five ubiquitously distributed receptor subtypes.
Classified as a broad inhibitory neuropeptide, somatostatin has anti-secretory, anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects.
The clinical use of native somatostatin is limited by a very short half-life (1 to 3min) and the broad spectrum of biological responses. Thus stable, receptor-selective agonists have been developed. The majority of these somatostatin therapeutic agonists bind strongly to two of the five receptor subtypes, although recently an agonist of wider affinity has been introduced.
Somatostatin agonists are established in the treatment of acromegaly with recently approved indications in the therapy of neuroendocrine tumours. Potential therapeutic uses for somatostatin analogues include diabetic complications like retinopathy, nephropathy and obesity, due to inhibition of IGF-1, VEGF together with insulin secretion and effects upon the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
Wider uses in anti-neoplastic therapy may also be considered and recent studies have further revealed anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects.
This review provides a comprehensive, current view of the biological functions of somatostatin and potential therapeutic uses, informed by the wide range of pharmacological advances reported since the last published review in 2004 by P. Dasgupta.
The pharmacology of somatostatin receptors is explained, the current uses of somatostatin agonists are discussed, and the potential future of therapeutic applications is explored.
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);
- Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: clinical records on 17 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;
- Oesophageal squamocellular carcinoma: a complete and objective response;
- Large B-cells Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage IV-AE: a Case Report;
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage III-B-E: a Case Report;
- Neuroblastoma: Complete objective response to biological treatment;
- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma.