SSTR expression in invasive lobular carcinomas of the breast.

Abstract

Background: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is often known to have a variety of clinical and pathological features. Somatostatin (SST) and its receptors have been identified as important biochemical markers in cancer. SST has an inhibitory effect on the secretion of growth hormone and its factors when bound to somatostatin receptors (SSTR). Due to the limitations in the diagnosis and prognosis of ILC, SST and its receptors could be the bridging factor to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of breast cancer. Hence it is of interest to find out the correlation between SSTRs and ILC. Aim of study: To compare the levels of expression between the five SSTR subtypes and study its implications in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of ILC. Results: There were no significant differences between the levels of expression of SSTR1-5. However, all five subtypes were expressed in all patient cases, with SSTR2 having the highest level of expression amongst the five subtypes. Conclusion: Though statistical tests do not show any significant differences between the various subtypes of SSTR, its expression in the ILC cases studied suggests this increased expression of this group of breast cancer patients could be used to assist diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.