[Somatostatin and somatostatin receptors in the prostate]

Abstract

Somatostatin (st) exerts a role in the control of prostate growth and function acting both at hypothalamus-hypophysis level and at glandular level. St analogues have been used to control prostate cancer (CaP) in clinical trials, with contradictory results. These data may be interpreted on the basis of st mechanism of action and tissue distribution of the five st receptors (sst1-5). Sts have been found in prostate tissue and, specifically, in the epithelial component. sst2 is preferentially expressed on normal prostate, sst1 and sst5 on CaP. st inhibits the proliferation of LNCaP and octreotide normal prostate epithelial cells in primary cultures. The lack of sst2 in CaP may explain the ineffectiveness of some selective st analogues in clinical trials. The use of other analogues actually developed with high affinities to ssts expressed mainly in CaP may represent a more rational approach.