3 research outputs found
Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor expression in lung cancer
Context.âGastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) activate mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway primarily through epidermal growth factor receptor activation and are under investigation as a molecular target because they are overexpressed in several solid tumors. Objective.âTo determine GRPR expression in both nonâsmall cell lung carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma, comparing results with clinical stages and demographic data. Design.âWe analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of GRPR in 200 nonâsmall cell lung carcinoma and 38 small cell lung carcinoma archival cases from 2004 to 2008. Results.âNonâsmall cell lung carcinoma cases tended to be higher GRPR expressers at a rate of 62.5% (weak, moderate, and strong expression in 41.5%, 13.5%, and 7.5%, respectively), compared with 52.62% in small cell lung carcinoma cases (weak, moderate, and strong expression in 34.21%, 15.78%, and 2.63%, respectively; P = .30). In nonâsmall cell lung carcinoma there was a trend for higher percentages of strong expression in adenocarcinoma cases (10%; P = .67), and in patients with advanced stages (III and IV; 9.43% and 6.9%; P = .01). Conclusions.âTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate GRPR tissue expression in a large population of patients with lung cancer. Although GRPR expression was similar in small cell and nonâsmall cell carcinoma, the expression was more pronounced in an advanced-stage lung cancer, particularly in adenocarcinoma cases, and may represent a potential target for the development of new treatment approaches in this population