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Published on: October 24, 2015
Somatostatin receptor in human hepatocellular carcinomas: biological, patient and tumor characteristics
C Verhoef1, H van Dekken, L J Hofland
1Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. c.verhoef@erasmusmc.nl
Background/Aim:
The evidence on the efficacy of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in humans is conflicting. A variety of human tumors demonstrate somatostatin receptors. All subtypes bind human somatostatin with high affinity, while somatostatin analogues bind with high affinity to somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (sst2). We investigated the sst2 expression in HCC and examined whether HCCs expressing sst2 are a distinct subgroup.
Patients And Methods:
Forty-five human HCCs were tested for sst2 expression and biological alterations. The proliferative capacity was determined with Ki67 immunostaining and the DNA ploidy status was measured by fluorescent in situ hybridization with a chromosome 1-specific repetitive DNA probe. Expression of tumor suppressor genes (p16, p53 and Rb1) was measured by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
sst2 expression was detected in 30 tumors (67%). No correlation existed between sst2 expression and the immunoprofiles of the tumor suppressor genes, aneuploidy, proliferation, age, gender, alpha-fetoprotein levels, tumor size, tumor grade and underlying liver disease.
Conclusion:
In 67% of the patients with HCC, sst2 could be detected in the tumor. No clinical, pathological or biological characteristics were specific for sst2-positive tumors.
Insights
Somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (sst2) is expressed in 67% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors. However, sst2 expression in HCC shows no correlation with clinical or biological characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The efficacy of somatostatin analogues in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear.
- Many human tumors express somatostatin receptors, with subtypes binding somatostatin and its analogues.
- Somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (sst2) is a key target for somatostatin analogues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of sst2 in human HCC.
- To determine if HCCs expressing sst2 constitute a distinct subgroup.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed sst2 expression in 45 human HCC samples.
- Assessed proliferative capacity using Ki67 immunostaining.
- Measured DNA ploidy status and expression of tumor suppressor genes (p16, p53, Rb1).
Main Results:
- sst2 expression was detected in 67% of HCC tumors.
- No correlation was found between sst2 expression and tumor suppressor gene profiles.
- No association was observed between sst2 expression and proliferation, ploidy, or clinical/pathological factors.
Conclusions:
- sst2 is detectable in a majority of HCC tumors (67%).
- sst2-positive HCCs do not exhibit specific clinical, pathological, or biological features.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of sst2 in HCC treatment.
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