Expression Analysis of SSTR 1, 2 and 3 in Small-cell Lung Cancer Patients as Targets for Future Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is noted for its high proliferative rate, and while treatable, relapse is common. SCLC is known to potentially express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). Somatostatin possesses antineoplastic activity through cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis, and angiogenesis inhibition. SSTRs, thus, serve as potential anticancer targets for somatostatin analogue therapies. The aim of the study was to determine the expression rate of SSTR subtypes 1, 2 and 3 in SCLC using immunohistochemistry, and potential predictors of such rates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 147 human, SCLC paraffin-embedded tissue microarrays with corresponding patient age, sex, TNM staging, and disease stage were utilized. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using anti-SSTR 1, 2 and 3 antibodies, each calibrated using healthy human pancreatic islets as positive controls. Array slides were counterstained with hematoxylin and scored based on stain intensity and percentage of stained cells.

RESULTS: No SCLC samples expressed SSTR 1, whereas SSTR 2 and 3 were expressed in 29.4% and 4.35% of cases respectively. While females had higher expression levels of SSTR 2/3, and there was a trend of decreased SSTR 2 expression with increased age, results were not statistically significant. No correlation between disease stage and SSTR expression was found. Co-expression of both SSTR2 and 3 occurred in 5.3% of patients.

CONCLUSION: Immunohisto-chemistry is an efficient screening tool to reveal optimum SCLC patients for somatostatin analogue therapy. Whilst there currently exist no accepted norm or predictors of SSTR expression levels in SCLC patients, this study contributes insight into the receptors' varied expression.