HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ardjomand, N. Articles by El-Shabrawi, Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ardjomand, N. Articles by El-Shabrawi, Y.

Expression of Somatostatin Receptors in Uveal Melanomas

¹From the Departments of Ophthalmology and ²Radiology and the ³Institute of Pathology, Karl Franzens University School of Medicine, Graz, Austria.

PURPOSE. To investigate the distribution of somatostatin receptor (SSR) subtypes 2, 3, and 5 in uveal melanomas and their diagnostic and possible therapeutic value.

METHODS. SSRs were investigated in 25 paraffin-embedded eyes with uveal melanomas and in 6 normal eyes without any disease, by using polyclonal antiserum directed to SSR2A, -2B, -3, and -5. Antigen expression was evaluated by a semiquantitative method. The expression pattern of SSR was correlated with the patients’ ad vitam prognosis by use of the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Six different human melanoma cell lines were incubated with octreotide and vapreotide, and a proliferation assay was performed by determining [³H]-TdR uptake. [111-Indium-DTPA-D-Phe1]-octreotide scintigraphy was performed in the eyes of four patients with known uveal melanomas.

RESULTS. All uveal melanomas were positive for SSR2. SSR2A was expressed in 15 of 25, SSR2B in 23 of 25, SSR3 in 7 of 25, and SSR5 in 13 of 25 uveal melanomas. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed a significantly better ad vitam prognosis for patients with tumors expressing high levels of SSR2. Cell proliferation was inhibited up to 36% ± 6% in three of six melanoma cell lines at a concentration of 10^-4 M octreotide or vapreotide. Eyes of two patients with uveal melanomas showed positive uptake of [111-Indium-DTPA-D-Phe1]-octreotide.

CONCLUSIONS. SSR2, -3, and -5 are expressed in human uveal melanomas and patients with a high amount of SSR2 in the melanoma tissue have a better ad vitam prognosis. Because a melanoma cell proliferation assay showed an inhibitory effect of up to 36% ± 6% using octreotide or vapreotide, somatostatin analogues may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with ocular melanomas.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. van Essen, E. P. Krenning, P. P. Kooij, W. H. Bakker, R. A. Feelders, W. W. de Herder, J. G. Wolbers, and D. J. Kwekkeboom Effects of Therapy with [177Lu-DOTA0, Tyr3]Octreotate in Patients with Paraganglioma, Meningioma, Small Cell Lung Carcinoma, and Melanoma J. Nucl. Med., October 1, 2006; 47(10): 1599 - 1606. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Moreaux, F. W. Cremer, T. Reme, M. Raab, K. Mahtouk, P. Kaukel, V. Pantesco, J. De Vos, E. Jourdan, A. Jauch, et al. The level of TACI gene expression in myeloma cells is associated with a signature of microenvironment dependence versus a plasmablastic signature Blood, August 1, 2005; 106(3): 1021 - 1030. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Ardjomand, A. M. Theisl, and J. Faulborn Paraffin Embedding Technique for Specimens Obtained by Vitrectomy Arch Ophthalmol, October 1, 2004; 122(10): 1537 - 1538. [Full Text] [PDF]