Diagnostic role of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in oncology

Abstract

Tumor receptor-targeted diagnostic imaging is an area of research that identifies a biomarker that is overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells and binds its ligand to carriers, allowing imaging of the tumor process. The success of this approach depends on the selectivity of the receptor for certain malignant cells, as well as on its ability to specifically bind to the target ligand. This review examines the diagnostic role of the bombesin family of receptors, which focus on gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPR), which are overexpressed in various cancers. For tumors expressing GRPR, the diagnostic informativeness of the detection of both primary tumor foci and metastases is high. The well-known concept of tumor heterogeneity has led to the development of bivalent prostate cancer - target peptides with the ability to target two receptors. Radiolabeled bombesin analogues are promising theranostic agents for tumors that express GRPR, which opens the possibility of early detection of primary tumors and metastatic lesions with high sensitivity and specificity. At the same time, further forward-looking clinical trials are needed to improve understanding of the relationship between GRPR expression and the biological behavior of different cancer cells. Key words: gastrin-releasing peptide receptors, bombesin, theranostic, oncology