Targeting CCK receptors in human cancers

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Jean Claude Reubi1

  • 1Division of Cell Biology and Experimental Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. reubi@pathology.unibe.ch

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
|June 23, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cholecystokinin receptors in neuroendocrine tumors shows promise for cancer imaging and therapy. Radiolabeled analogs enable in vivo detection of these tumors, validating CCK receptor targeting in clinical settings.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Over-expressed gut hormone receptors in human cancers offer targets for imaging and therapy.
  • The cholecystokinin receptor (CCK-R) is a promising target due to its expression in various tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential of cholecystokinin receptors as targets for tumor imaging and therapy.
  • To assess the feasibility of in vivo targeting of CCK receptors in human tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Development of radiolabeled cholecystokinin (CCK) or gastrin analogs.
  • Utilizing in vivo cholecystokinin receptor scintigraphy for tumor detection.

Main Results:

  • Cholecystokinin receptors are expressed in neuroendocrine tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinomas and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, as well as stromal tumors.
  • Radiolabeled CCK/gastrin analogs successfully detected these tumors and metastases in patients.
  • In vivo scintigraphy confirmed the feasibility of targeting CCK receptors in human tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Cholecystokinin receptor targeting is a viable strategy for imaging and potentially treating neuroendocrine tumors.
  • Radiolabeled CCK analogs are effective diagnostic tools for detecting CCK receptor-expressing tumors and metastases.

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