Immunohistochemical expression of somatostatin type 2A receptor in neuroendocrine carcinoma of uterine cervix.
BACKGROUND
Somatostatin and its analogues inhibit the growth of various kinds of endocrine and exocrine cells via the somatostatin receptor (SSTR). Expression of SSTR2A has been reported in many well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and small numbers of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. SSTR2A-positive neuroendocrine tumors may be treatable by SS analogues. Uterine cervical neuroendocrine carcinoma is generally associated with poor prognosis.


METHODS
We examined the expression of SSTR2A and other neuroendocrine markers [neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), chromogranin A, and synaptophysin] by immunohistochemical methods in seven neuroendocrine tumors of the uterine cervix: five small cell carcinomas and two large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas.


RESULTS
SSTR2A was expressed in one small cell carcinoma and two neuroendocrine large cell carcinomas. The cell membrane of cells in these carcinomas showed strong immunohistochemical reactivity for SSTR2A. SSTR2A-positive cases are also frequently positive for the expression of chromogranin A. Treatment with SSTR2A may be effective for endocrine tumors. The results indicate the usefulness of SSTR2A analogs for the treatment of some uterine neuroendocrine carcinomas.
Kajiwara
Hiroshi
H
Department of Pathology, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan. h-kaji@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
Hirabayashi
Kenichi
K
Miyazawa
Masaki
M
Nakamura
Naoya
N
Hirasawa
Takeshi
T
Muramatsu
Toshinari
T
Mikami
Mikio
M
Yasuda
Masanori
M
Osamura
R Y
RY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D053379:Chromogranin A; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D053379:Chromogranin A; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D016708:Synaptophysin; C093733:somatostatin receptor 2