title: The expression of somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 in benign, pre-malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions.
abstract: The role of chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx has not been clearly defined. Whilst toxic chemotherapy regimes may confer a marginal improvement in survival, surgery and radiotherapy remain the mainstay of treatment. Somatostatin is a naturally occurring peptide, which exerts antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects via five membrane-bound receptor subtypes. The expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTRs) 1 and 2 was studied in benign, pre-malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens. Epithelial expression of SSTR1 was detected in 4/6 (67%) Reinke's oedema, 5/6 (83%) pre-malignant and 8/12 (67%) malignant specimens, with virtually no stromal or vascular expression. High levels of epithelial SSTR2 expression were noted in all Reinke's oedema specimens, compared with low-to-moderate levels in only 2/6 (33%) pre-malignant and 3/12 (25%) malignant specimens (P < 0.01). This 'loss' of epithelial SSTR2 expression may provide a growth advantage in pre-malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions. Vascular expression of SSTR2 was ubiquitous in all groups, with scant stromal expression. Overall, most (>80%) pre-malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens expressed at least one of the two SSTR subtypes studied. Somatostatin analogues may have a therapeutic role in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Michael White Diabetes Centre, Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road, Hull, UK. N.D.Stafford@hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Condon
authors.forename: M J C
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Atkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; C101130:somatostatin receptor type 1; C093733:somatostatin receptor 2