bombesin--tyr(4)- and Colonic-Neoplasms

Studies demonstrate that some colon cancers possess receptors for various gastrointestinal hormones or neurotransmitters, the occupation of which can affect growth. These results are limited because frequently only a small number of tumors are studied, only 1 or 2 receptors are sought, and the effect on cell function is not investigated. In the present study, 10 recently characterized human colon cancer cell lines were studied to determine whether they possess receptors for any of 12 different gastrointestinal hormones or neurotransmitters and to determine whether these receptors mediate changes in cellular function. Each of the cell lines exhibited receptors for at least one radioligand. Receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and muscarinic cholinergic agents occurred on 60%, bombesin and gastrin on 30%, beta-adrenergic agents and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) on 20%, and somatostatin, opiates, neuromedin B, and substance P on 10%. Analysis of [3H]N-methylscopolamine binding revealed a Kd of 0.2 nM for N-methylscopolamine with a binding capacity of 2500 sites/cell. With the agonist carbamylcholine, the receptor exhibited 2 classes of binding sites: one of high affinity (Kd 55 microM) representing 75% of the binding sites and one of low affinity (Kd 0.3 mM) representing 25% of the binding sites. Analysis of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin binding revealed a receptor of high affinity (Kd 2.1 microM) with a binding capacity of 3300 sites/cell. Inhibition of binding by agonists revealed relative potencies of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin greater than GRP much greater than neuromedin B, and two recently described antagonists were similar in potency to GRP. Analysis of 125I-VIP binding revealed a receptor having 2 classes of binding sites: one of high affinity (Kd 3.6 nM) and one of low affinity (Kd 1.7 microM) which represented the majority of the 5.5 x 10(6) binding sites/cell. The relative potencies of agonists were VIP greater than helodermin greater than peptide histidine methionine greater than secretin. Evaluation of biological activity mediated by the muscarinic cholinergic and bombesin receptors revealed an increase of intracellular calcium and of inositol triphosphate by specific receptor agonists. The presence or absence of receptors detected by binding correlated closely with the ability of selective receptor agonists to alter cell function. These results demonstrate the presence of several different receptors for gastrointestinal hormones or neurotransmitt

Topics: Bombesin; Calcium; Carbachol; Colonic Neoplasms; Humans; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; N-Methylscopolamine; Receptors, Bombesin; Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Scopolamine Derivatives; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Specific receptors for bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide, somatostatin, and EGF were investigated in 15 human colon cancer specimens. Eight of 15 clinical specimens (15%) of colon cancer showed the presence of somatostatin receptors. Octapeptide somatostatin analogs, RC-160 and RC-121, showed 10 times higher binding affinity for somatostatin receptors on colon cancer membranes than somatostatin. Analysis of 125I-Tyr4-bombesin binding data revealed the presence of specific binding sites in six (40%) specimens of human colon cancer. Scatchard analysis of 125I-labeled bombesin indicated a single class of receptors in three specimens with an apparent Kd value of 2.5 nM and two classes of receptors with high (Kd = 0.4 +/- 0.2 nM) and low affinity (Kd = 1.6 +/- 0.4 microM) in three other specimens. The 125I-Tyr4-bombesin binding capacities in the colon cancers for high affinity binding sites were from 6 to 228 fmol/mg protein and for low affinity binding sites 76 +/- 15 pmol/mg protein. None of the membrane preparations made from normal colonic mucosa specimens showed specific binding for 125I-Tyr4-bombesin. Five pseudononapeptide (psi 13-14) bombesin (6-14) antagonists, with different modifications at Positions 6 and 14, synthesized in our laboratory, inhibited the binding of 125I-Tyr4-bombesin in nanomolar concentrations. No correlation was found between the degree of differentiation and the presence of binding sites for somatostatin or bombesin. Specific binding of EGF was detected in 80% of colon cancer specimens. EGF binding capacity in colon cancer membranes was on average twice as high as in normal colon mucosa (50 +/- 21 vs 28 +/- 14 fmol/mg protein, respectively). Specific binding sites for somatostatin and EGF, but not bombesin, were also demonstrated in human colon cancer cell line HT-29. In HCT-116 colon cancer line only EGF receptors were found. These receptor findings and our in vivo studies on inhibition of colon cancer growth support the merit of continued evaluation of somatostatin analogs and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonists in the management of colonic carcinoma.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amino Acid Sequence; Bombesin; Cell Membrane; Colonic Neoplasms; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Kinetics; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; Receptors, Bombesin; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Receptors, Somatostatin; Somatostatin; Tumor Cells, Cultured