Gastrin releasing peptide and gastrin releasing peptide receptor expression in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours.
OBJECTIVE
To establish whether gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) and the GRP receptor (GRPR) are expressed together in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours.


METHODS
Twenty six carcinoid tumours from the stomach, small intestine, appendix, and colorectum were investigated by immunohistochemistry for GRP and GRPR.


RESULTS
GRP was detected in nine of 19 tumours and GRPR in 22 of 26. Coexpression of both the ligand and receptor was seen in six of 19 cases. GRPR but not GRP was more strongly expressed in appendix and colonic tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
GRP and GRPR are produced by a large number of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours. An autocrine/paracrine pathway may exist for GRP stimulated cell proliferation in some of these neoplasms, analogous to that seen in small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung.
Scott
N
N
Department of Pathology, St James's University Hospital, United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK. nigelscott50@hotmail.com
Millward
E
E
Cartwright
E J
EJ
Preston
S R
SR
Coletta
P L
PL
D001063:Appendiceal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide