Somatostatin receptor imaging and therapy of pancreatic endocrine tumors

Somatostatin receptors (SS-Rs) have been found on a variety of neuroendocri ne tumors like carcinoids, paragangliomas, as well as on brain and breast t umors. SS-Rs are also present on most pancreatic endocrine tumors, while previous in vitro studies indicate the absence of these receptors on pancreatic duct cancers. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with a radionuclide labeled so matostatin analogue, [In-111-DTPA(0)]-octreotide, is a sensitive and specif ic technique to visualize in vivo the presence of SS-Rs on various tumors. The purpose of this article is to review the somatostatin receptor imaging of pancreatic endocrine tumors and to illustrate the impact of SS-R express ion for therapeutic strategies.