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Evidence for Somatostatin receptor 2 in thyroid tissue
M Druckenthaner1, C Schwarzer, C Ensinger
1Clinical Department of Nuclear Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria.
Regulatory Peptides
|September 26, 2006
Summary
Somatostatin receptor subtype 2 is prevalent in thyroid tumors, making it a promising target for novel therapies. This finding supports the use of somatostatin analogues for treating thyroid cancers that do not respond to radioiodine.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy is valuable for thyroid tumor imaging.
- Somatostatin analogues are emerging as treatments for radioiodine-negative thyroid tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes in thyroid tumors and normal thyroid tissue.
- To assess the suitability of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 as a therapeutic target in thyroid cancer.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to analyze mRNA expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR 1-5) and thyroid markers.
- Immunohistochemistry with SSTR2-specific antibodies was performed for correlation.
- Surgical samples from 21 patients (16 tumors, 17 controls) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 94% of samples expressed somatostatin receptor mRNA, with SSTR2 being predominant.
- SSTR2 mRNA expression strongly correlated with SSTR2 immunohistochemistry results (87% positive).
- SSTR5 and SSTR3 showed less predominant expression.
Conclusions:
- Somatostatin receptor 2 is predominantly expressed in thyroid tissue, validating it as a therapeutic target.
- Current octreotide derivatives used in nuclear medicine are suitable for targeting these receptors in thyroid tumors.
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