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Differential Expression of the Five Somatostatin Receptor Subtypes in Human Benign and Malignant Insulinomas – Predominance of Receptor Subtype 4

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Abstract

Insulinomas constitute a subgroup of pancreatic endocrine tumors showing B cell differentiation and clinical symptoms related to inappropriate insulin secretion (WHO). Many endocrine tumors express somatostatin receptors (sstrs), which can be visualized by octreotide scintigraphy; however, about half of all insulinomas are reported to be negative. Previous immunohistochemical investigations with antibodies to sstr subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 5 have revealed differences in expression between various neuroendocrine tumors. In the present study, the immunoreactivity to all five human sstr was studied in ten benign and six malignant human insulinomas. Sstr4 was the receptor subtype most frequently expressed in both benign and malignant tumors. A difference in the immunohistochemical sstr5 expression pattern was seen between benign and malignant tumors: Three of the six malignant tumors, but none of the benign tumors, expressed sstr5. The other receptor subtypes were expressed in low numbers with no difference between benign and malignant tumors. The finding of a strong expression of sstr4 in both benign and malignant insulinomas suggests that this receptor subtype could be of importance for diagnostic and therapeutic use.

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Acknowledgements

This work was accorded grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Lions Cancer Foundation at Uppsala University Hospital, and Selanders Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics and Pathology, Unit of Pathology, University Hospital, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden

    Guida Maria Portela-Gomes & Lars Grimelius

  2. Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Mats Stridsberg

  3. Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Endocrine Oncology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Eva Tiensuu Janson

  4. Department of Gastroenterology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Guida Maria Portela-Gomes

  5. Department of Medicine, Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Otto Rorstad

  6. Rua Domingos Sequeira-128, S. Pedro do Estoril, 2765-525, Estoril, Portugal

    Guida Maria Portela-Gomes

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  1. Guida Maria Portela-Gomes
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  2. Mats Stridsberg
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  3. Lars Grimelius
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Correspondence to Guida Maria Portela-Gomes.

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Portela-Gomes, G.M., Stridsberg, M., Grimelius, L. et al. Differential Expression of the Five Somatostatin Receptor Subtypes in Human Benign and Malignant Insulinomas – Predominance of Receptor Subtype 4. Endocr Pathol 18, 79–85 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-007-0014-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-007-0014-8

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