[Somatostatin in breast cancer]

In man, somatostatin is a hormone mostly produced by hypothalamus. It plays different parts in hormonal regulation through many specific receptors in human body. It has also two interesting actions such as an anti-secretory activity, mostly on the gastrointestinal system and an antiproliferative action on tumor cells. Many synthetic somatostatin analogues, more stable than the natural one, have been developed and are already used in digestive surgery to treat postoperative digestive fistula. Also, the development of specific polyclonal antibodies allowed the identification of five specific somatostatin receptors and their localization in different cell species. The presence of the five receptors in breast cancer cells has than been demonstrated. The purpose of this literature review is to clarify the potential antitumor effect of somatastatin analogues in breast cancer; its use as a preventive agent on lymphorrhea after breast surgery and its employment in imaging for early breast cancer detection.