Somatostatin receptor imaging, therapy and new strategies in patients with neuroendocrine tumours.
BACKGROUND
Somatostatin receptors have been found on a variety of neuroendocrine tumours, such as carcinoids and paragangliomas, as well as on most pancreatic endocrine and breast tumours. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with a radionuclide-labelled somatostatin analogue, [111Indium- diethylenetriaminopenta-acetic acid]octreotide, is a sensitive and specific technique for visualizing in vivo the presence of somatostatin receptors on various tumours.


METHODS
Material was identified from previous review articles, references cited in original papers and a Medline search of the literature. Additional material was obtained from recently published abstracts of meetings.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatostatin receptor imaging of neuroendocrine tumours is essential in the diagnostic evaluation of most of these tumours. The expression of somatostatin receptors in vivo not only predicts the outcome of somatostatin analogue treatment but also opens the possibility of new therapeutic strategies. Because better information about spread of the disease can be obtained, more justifiable options for therapy can be proposed.
Slooter
G D
GD
Departments of Surgery, Nuclear Medicine and Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mearadji
A
A
Breeman
W A
WA
Marquet
R L
RL
de Jong
M
M
Krenning
E P
EP
van Eijck
C H
CH
D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014162:Transfection
D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; C109600:indium benzyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; D013004:Somatostatin; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D015282:Octreotide