Gastrin and cholecystokinin 2 receptor, and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in cancer: From pathogenesis to precision medicine.
Gastrin regulates gastric acid secretion and mucosal homeostasis via the cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R). Aberrant signaling via CCK2R (cholecystokinin family) and the distinct class A GPCR, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR; bombesin family), drives oncogenesis across diverse GI and non-GI malignancies through calcium mobilization, MAPK/PI3K activation, EGFR transactivation, and constitutive splice variants like CCK2Ri4sv. Furthermore, precursor forms such as progastrin remodel the tumor microenvironment by interacting with non-CCK binding sites (p78, Annexin A2), converting fibroblasts into pro-invasive CAFs and sustaining cancer stem cells. Chronic hypergastrinemia, induced by Helicobacter pylori infection, autoimmune gastritis, or long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, drives enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell hyperplasia, promoting gastric neuroendocrine tumors and diffuse-type carcinomas. Beyond gastroenteropancreatic physiology, selective expression of CCK2R on ECL and thyroid C-cells, combined with widespread ectopic GRPR overexpression in solid tumors, establishes versatile platforms for molecular imaging and radiotheranostics. Radiolabeled peptide antagonists and stabilized minigastrin/bombesin analogs conjugated to diagnostic (68Ga, 64Cu) or therapeutic radionuclides (177Lu,225Ac, 212Pb) enable high-resolution PET imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy (PRRT/TAT). These strategies demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy and localized cytotoxicity in medullary thyroid carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, prostate neoplasms, and ER+ breast cancers. Concurrently, novel circulating biomarkers, including multi-genomic liquid biopsies (NETest®) and ProGRP, significantly improve non-invasive disease tracking. Unraveling these receptor pathways bridges tumor biology with translational medicine, offering transformative potential for personalized diagnosis, risk stratification, and targeted radionuclide therapy.
Authors
Dall'Olmo Dall'Olmo, Callegarin Callegarin, Russano Russano, Finadri Finadri, Martinelli Martinelli, Buja Buja, Rastrelli Rastrelli, Mocellin Mocellin
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