Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor expression in cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
It was the aim of this study to evaluate whether cervical neoplasms and adjacent tissues express the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) and whether there is a significant difference in its distribution among preinvasive and invasive cancers.


METHODS
Sections of paraffin-embedded cervical tumors (n = 88) and non-neoplastic control cervical tissues (n = 14) obtained from women registered in the Pathology Department, Academic Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, were investigated by immunohistochemistry for GRPR.


RESULTS
GRPR was detected in 99% of tumor specimens, mostly exhibiting a diffuse strong staining. The receptors were seldom detected in the endocervices, while ectocervices expressed GRPRs only when adjacent to neoplastic lesions. No correlation between GRPR expression and preinvasive and invasive neoplasms was found.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the widespread GRPR expression in human cervical cancer. The presence of receptors both in tumors and surrounding tissues may suggest that GRPR can play a role in the cervical carcinogenic process. These data provide a molecular basis for exploiting GRPR as a target for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in cervical neoplasms.
Cornelio
Daniela Baumann
DB
Cancer Research Laboratory, Academic Research Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. danicornelio@terra.com.br
Meurer
Luise
L
Roesler
Rafael
R
Schwartsmann
Gilberto
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D018004:Receptors, Bombesin