Cholecystokinin expression in tumors: biogenetic and diagnostic implications.
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a classic gut hormone. CCK is also a complex system of peptides expressed in several molecular forms in enteroendocrine I cells, in cerebral and peripheral neurons, in cardiac myocytes and spermatozoa. CCK gene expression has now been found at protein or peptide level in different neuroendocrine tumors; cerebral gliomas and astrocytomas and specific pediatric tumors. Tumor hypersecretion of CCK was recently reported in a patient with a metastatic islet cell tumor and hypercholecystokininemia resulting in a novel tumor syndrome, the cholecystokininoma syndrome. This review presents an overview of the cell-specific biogenesis of CCK peptides, and a description of the CCK expression in tumors and of the cholecystokininoma syndrome. Finally, assays for the diagnosis of CCK-producing tumors are reviewed.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jens F
JF
Rehfeld
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011485:Protein Binding; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D021381:Protein Transport; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011949:Receptors, Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011949:Receptors, Cholecystokinin; D002766:Cholecystokinin
CCK; CCK receptors; carcinogenesis; cholecystokinin; cholecystokininoma syndrome; diagnostic assays; growth promotion; neuroendocrine tumors; neuropeptides; peptide biosynthesis; proCCK