title: Neurotensin receptors in pancreatic ductal carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequent expression of neurotensin receptors (NT-R) in primaries of pancreatic ductal carcinomas has triggered the development of radioactive neurotensin analogs for possible in vivo targeting of these tumors. However, the complete lack of information regarding NT-R in liver metastases of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) makes an in vitro study of NT-R in these tissues indispensable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using in vitro receptor autoradiography with (125)I-[Tyr(3)]-neurotensin, NT-R were investigated in 18 primaries and 23 liver metastases of pancreatic ductal carcinomas as well as in 19 PanIN lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report here that 13 of 18 ductal carcinoma primaries and 14 of 23 liver metastases expressed NT-R. Moreover, none of the six PanIN 1B cases expressed NT-R, while two of six PanIN 2 and five of seven PanIN 3 expressed NT-R. Binding was fully displaced by the type 1 NT-R-selective antagonist SR48692, indicating that the NT-R in the tumors are of the type 1 NT-R subtype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These in vitro data extend the currently available information on NT-R in invasive and non-invasive pancreatic ductal tumors. They suggest that type 1 NT-R may be a novel, specific marker of PanIN of higher degree. The high expression of NT-R in primaries and metastases of invasive cancer strongly support the need to develop radioactive neurotensin analogs for the diagnosis and therapy of this tumor type.
authors: Cell Biology and Experimental Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, University of Berne, PO Box 62, Murtenstrasse 31, CH-3010 Berne, Switzerland.
authors: Meike
authors: M
authors: Körner
authors: Cell Biology and Experimental Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, University of Berne, PO Box 62, Murtenstrasse 31, CH-3010 Berne, Switzerland.
authors: Beatrice
authors: B
authors: Waser
authors: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Strobel
authors: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Büchler
authors: Cell Biology and Experimental Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, University of Berne, PO Box 62, Murtenstrasse 31, CH-3010 Berne, Switzerland.
authors: Jean Claude
authors: JC
authors: Reubi
keywords: Liver metastasis; Neurotensin receptors; Pancreatic ductal carcinomas; Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia; Tumor imaging