Quantitative gene expression of somatostatin receptors and noradrenaline transporter underlying scintigraphic results in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Quantitative gene expression of somatostatin receptors and noradrenaline transporter underlying scintigraphic results in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

AU - Binderup, Tina

AU - Knigge, Ulrich

AU - Mellon Mogensen, Anne

AU - Palnaes Hansen, Carsten

AU - Kjaer, Andreas

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adult; Aged; Digestive System Neoplasms; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Radionuclide Imaging; Receptors, Somatostatin; Whole Body Imaging

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - AIM: To measure, by a quantitative approach, the gene expression underlying the results of somatostatin receptor (sst) scintigraphy ((111)In-DTPA-octreotide) and noradrenaline transporter (NAT) scintigraphy ((123)I-MIBG) in patients with neuroendocrine (NE) tumors. METHODS: The gene expression of somatostatin receptors 1-5 (sst) and NAT was measured quantitatively by real-time PCR in a group of patients with NE tumors (n = 14) and compared to a group of patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas (n = 15). If available, scintigraphic results were compared with gene expression results (9 octreotide and 3 MIBG scintigraphies). RESULTS: The sst(2) was upregulated in 13 of 14 patients (93%) with NE tumors, and the absolute level of gene expression was highest for sst(2). Gene expression alterations of NAT and the other sst subtypes were more variable. Gene expression of sst(2) was in all cases in agreement with positive octreotide scintigraphies. In 2 of 3 cases where MIBG scintigraphy was positive, NAT was also upregulated. Sst(2) was generally downregulated in the colorectal tumor group with the gene expression of the other receptors being more heterogeneous. CONCLUSIONS: In general, changes in gene expression of sst(2) corresponded with scintigraphic results. Our data support that sst(2) is the best target for visualization of NE tumors, whereas NAT is only a useful target in a subpopulation of NE tumors. Comparison of scintigraphic results with quantitative gene expression may be used to achieve a better understanding of the link between them, which in turn could aid in planning and development of noninvasive molecular imaging of key molecular processes.

AB - AIM: To measure, by a quantitative approach, the gene expression underlying the results of somatostatin receptor (sst) scintigraphy ((111)In-DTPA-octreotide) and noradrenaline transporter (NAT) scintigraphy ((123)I-MIBG) in patients with neuroendocrine (NE) tumors. METHODS: The gene expression of somatostatin receptors 1-5 (sst) and NAT was measured quantitatively by real-time PCR in a group of patients with NE tumors (n = 14) and compared to a group of patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas (n = 15). If available, scintigraphic results were compared with gene expression results (9 octreotide and 3 MIBG scintigraphies). RESULTS: The sst(2) was upregulated in 13 of 14 patients (93%) with NE tumors, and the absolute level of gene expression was highest for sst(2). Gene expression alterations of NAT and the other sst subtypes were more variable. Gene expression of sst(2) was in all cases in agreement with positive octreotide scintigraphies. In 2 of 3 cases where MIBG scintigraphy was positive, NAT was also upregulated. Sst(2) was generally downregulated in the colorectal tumor group with the gene expression of the other receptors being more heterogeneous. CONCLUSIONS: In general, changes in gene expression of sst(2) corresponded with scintigraphic results. Our data support that sst(2) is the best target for visualization of NE tumors, whereas NAT is only a useful target in a subpopulation of NE tumors. Comparison of scintigraphic results with quantitative gene expression may be used to achieve a better understanding of the link between them, which in turn could aid in planning and development of noninvasive molecular imaging of key molecular processes.

U2 - 10.1159/000113128

DO - 10.1159/000113128

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18196892

SN - 0028-3835

VL - 87

SP - 223

EP - 232

JO - Neuroendocrinology

JF - Neuroendocrinology

IS - 4

ER -