Growth factor receptor expression in human gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
BACKGROUND
Human gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours are functionally and biologically heterogeneous, but their exact growth factor receptor expression pattern, important for onco- and carcinogenesis, remains unknown.


METHODS
This study searched for the mRNA expression pattern of six tyrosine- and serine/threonine kinase receptors [hepatocyte growth factor (HGFR), fibroblast growth factor (FGFR), epidermal growth factor (EGFR), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1R, transforming growth factor (TGF)-betaR1, TGF-betaR2] together with the five somatostatin receptors in human gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (gastrinomas, insulinomas, tumours with carcinoid syndrome, functionally inactive neuroendocrine tumours) using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
EGF receptor was expressed almost exclusively in gastrinomas. Among the four tumour subtypes, expression frequencies of the somatostatin receptors 1 and 5, HGF-, IGF-1-, TGF-betaR1, TGF-betaR2 and the EGF-receptor varied significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of the common cellular origin of these tumours, differences in growth factor receptor expression suggest the existence of different pathways during tumour subtype development.
Wulbrand
U
U
Philipps-University Marburg, Germany. wulbranu@post.med.uni-marburg.de
Wied
M
M
Zöfel
P
P
Göke
B
B
Arnold
R
R
Fehmann
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012737:Sex Factors
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met