title: Growth hormone-releasing hormone and extra-pituitary tumorigenesis: therapeutic and diagnostic applications of growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonists.
abstract: Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) regulates growth hormone release from the pituitary. However, in addition to this neuroendocrine action, much evidence implies an additional role for GHRH in carcinogenesis in non-pituitary tissues. This role of GHRH in cancer development appears to be due to the operation of several mechanisms, which involve the regulation of the growth hormone-dependent hepatic insulin-like growth factor I (IGFI) production, tumoural IGF-I and IGF-II secretion and direct action of GHRH on tumour cells by autocrine and/or paracrine pathways. This review summarises the available information regarding the role of GHRH in tumorigenesis with special emphasis on the direct action of GHRH in primary and experimental cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, 75 Micras Asias, 115 27 Athens, Greece. hkiaris@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Hippokratis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiaris
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutsilieris
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalofoutis
authors.forename: Andrew V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schally
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone