Somatostatin receptor expression in non-medullary thyroid carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is dependent upon binding of radiolabelled peptides to their respective receptor expressing cells. The main objective of this study was to characterize the expression of somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtypes in non-medullary thyroid cancers in order to be able to recommend the use of PRRT as a treatment option in patients with progressive local or metastatic disease.


METHODS
We constructed tissue microarrays from paraffin blocks prepared from 47 cases of non-medullary thyroid carcinomas and related normal thyroid tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with five different polyclonal SSTR antibodies.


RESULTS
SSTR subtypes sst2 and sst3 were expressed in all non-medullary thyroid carcinomas, sst1 and sst5 in 75%, and sst4 in 38%. Coexpression of more than three subtypes was detected in 36 of the 47 cases. The expression of SSTR subtypes in normal thyroid tissue was low or absent.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-medullary thyroid carcinomas frequently express all SSTR subtypes. This expression provides a basis for further studies with the aim of exploring PRRT as a possible new treatment for iodine-131 refractory metastatic non-medullary thyroid carcinomas.
Department of Endocrinology, Endocrine Oncology, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Kalliopi
K
Pazaitou-Panayiotou
Eva
E
Tiensuu Janson
Triantafyllia
T
Koletsa
Vassiliki
V
Kotoula
Mats
M
Stridsberg
Georgios
G
Karkavelas
Georgia
G
Karayannopoulou
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin