EXPRESSION OF RECEPTORS FOR GUT PEPTIDES IN HUMAN PANCREATIC ADENOCARCINOMA AND TUMOR-FREE PANCREAS

Gut hormones that modulate the growth of normal pancreas may also modu late the growth of cancers originating from pancreas. This study visua lized and compared the receptors for cholecystokinin (CCK), bombesin ( BBS), secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in tumour-free tissue sections of human pancreas (n = 10) and pancreatic ductal adeno carcinomas (n = 12) with storage phosphor autoradiography using radiol igands. CCK-B receptors, present in control pancreata, were not detect ed in any of the pancreatic cancers. BBS receptors were visualized in control pancreata, but they were absent in 10 of 12 pancreatic cancers . In 5 of 12 pancreatic cancers, receptors for secretin were visualize d, while binding for secretin was present in all tumour-free pancreata . conversely no specific binding of VIP was detected in control pancre ata but was identified in 3 of 12 pancreatic cancer specimens. it is c oncluded that the expression of gut peptide receptors in pancreatic ca ncer differs from that in tumour-free pancreas. Receptors for these pe ptides are present in only a minority of pancreatic cancer specimens.