Immunocytochemical localization and identification of prosomatostatin gene products in medullary carcinoma of human thyroid gland.

Abstract

Thirty-three cases of histologically proven calcitonin-positive medullary thyroid carcinoma were studied immunocytochemically for the occurrence of prosomatostatin-related peptides. Positive cells, identified with a panel of antisera raised against four different regions of the prosomatostatin molecule, were found in 100% of the tumors. Most but not all somatostatin-positive cells were also immunoreactive for calcitonin. Notably, seven patients harboring somatostatin-rich tumors revealed a more favorable clinical course. The results (1) indicate that somatostatin production is a universal concomitant of thyroid medullary carcinoma, (2) suggest that these cells are likely to produce a somatostatin precursor molecule similar to mammalian prosomatostatin, and (3) imply that somatostatin-reactive cells may have as yet unknown roles in these tumors, possibly in the realm of paracrine and autocrine regulation of cell growth.

• Authors: L Scopsi, C Ferrari, S Pilotti, J J Holst, J F Rehfeld, G Fossati, F Rilke
• Journal: Human pathology (Hum Pathol) Vol. 21 Issue 8 Pg. 820-30 (Aug 1990) ISSN: 0046-8177 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1974875 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Protein Precursors
• Somatostatin
• prosomatostatin
• Calcitonin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Calcitonin (metabolism)
• Carcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Gene Expression
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Protein Precursors (metabolism)
• Somatostatin (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Thyroid Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)