Growth hormone-releasing hormone and extra-pituitary tumorigenesis: therapeutic and diagnostic applications of growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonists.
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.
Kiaris
Hippokratis
H
Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, 75 Micras Asias, 115 27 Athens, Greece. hkiaris@med.uoa.gr
Koutsilieris
Michael
M
Kalofoutis
Anastasios
A
Schally
Andrew V
AV
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
D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone