Selective Activation of Somatostatin Receptor Subtypes Differentially Modulates Secretion and Viability in Human Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Primary Cultures: Potential Clinical Perspectives

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2006-06, Vol.91 (6), p.2218-2224
• Main Authors: Zatelli, Maria Chiara, Piccin, Daniela, Tagliati, Federico, Bottoni, Arianna, Luchin, Andrea, Vignali, Cristina, Margutti, Angelo, Bondanelli, Marta, Pansini, Gian Carlo, Pelizzo, Maria Rosa, Culler, Michael D., degli Uberti, Ettore C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Calcitonin - secretion; Carcinoma, Medullary - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Medullary - pathology; Carcinoma, Medullary - secretion; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival - drug effects; Child; Chromogranin A; Chromogranins - secretion; Endocrinopathies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Malignant tumors; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Receptors, Somatostatin - agonists; Receptors, Somatostatin - analysis; Receptors, Somatostatin - classification; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Thyroid Neoplasms - drug therapy; Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology; Thyroid Neoplasms - secretion; Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases); Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2006-0334

Context: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare tumor originating from thyroid parafollicular C cells. We previously demonstrated that somatostatin (SRIH) reduces cell growth in the human MTC cell line, TT, which expresses all SRIH receptor (SSTR) subtypes and responds differently to selective SSTR agonists. Objective: To clarify the possible effects of SRIH analogs on hormone secretion and proliferation in MTC primary cultures, we evaluated SSTR expression and assessed the in vitro effects on calcitonin (CT) and chromogranin A secretion as well as cell viability of SRIH analogs interacting with SSTR1, SSTR2, and SSTR5. Design: Thirty-five patients affected by MTC were recruited from 2003 to 2005. After total thyroidectomy, the samples were examined for CT, chromogranin A, and SSTR expression by RT-PCR. Primary cultures were developed and tested with SRIH analogs interacting with SSTR1, SSTR2, and SSTR5. Results: We selected 18 MTC tumor samples, expressing SSTR1, SSTR2, and SSTR5. Two different groups were identified according to CT secretion inhibition by the clinically available SRIH analog, lanreotide. In the responder group, CT secretion was reduced by compounds interacting with SSTR1, SSTR2, and SSTR5, whereas cell viability was not affected. On the other hand, in the nonresponder group, CT secretion was reduced by the SSTR1 selective agonist, whereas cell viability was inhibited by SSTR2 selective agonists. Conclusions: Our data suggest that SRIH analogs might be useful in medical therapy of MTC because they could have antiproliferative effects despite the lack of antisecretory activity and vice versa.