Effects of treatment with somatostatin analogues on the occurrence of apoptosis in somatotropinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Apoptosis of endocrine cells represents one of factors significantly affected the control of hormones secretion. Present study aimed to examine whether treatment of somatotropinoma types tumours with somatostatine analogue (lanreotide) results in apoptosis.


METHODS
The studies were performed on 35 patients with somatotropinoma type tumours on whom adenomectomy was performed by transsphenoidal approach. The operative material was examined by cellular morphology, based on light and electron microscopy and chromosomal ladder formation assay.


RESULTS
The number of apoptotic cells showed features typical for the process as condensation and fragmentation of chromatin, vacuolisation, damage of the inner structure of mitochondria and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA was found in the study material. The results of the studies demonstrated the occurrence of lanreotide induced apoptosis in somatotropinoma type tumours. The grade of apoptotic cells in macroadenomas type adenomas, treated with lanreotide, ranged from 4.0% to 17.1% (mean 8.7+/-2.6%). Patients in whom hypophysectomy was not preceded by lanreotide treatment demonstrated low level of apoptotic cells (no more than 3.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
The studies showed that treatment with somatostatine analogue-lanreotide induced apoptosis of tumour cell suggesting that the induction of apoptotic cell death may be involved in the anticancer activity of somatostatine analogue.
Wasko
Ryszard
R
Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Internal Diseases, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. rwasko@amp.edu.pl
Jankowska
Anna
A
Kotwicka
Malgorzata
M
Liebert
Wlodzimierz
W
Sowinski
Jerzy
J
Warchol
Jerzy Bozydar
JB
D000236:Adenoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C060347:lanreotide; D013004:Somatostatin