Somatostatin receptors are part of the super family of G protein-coupled receptors. Five genes encoding six different somatostatin receptor subtypes have been cloned. Somatostatin receptors are activated by somatostatin, a neuropeptide that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain that regulates hormone secretion from endocrine tissues. Somatostatin receptors are found to be highly expressed on human neuroendocrine tumors.mRNA expression data and immunohistochemical studies indicate high expression of SSTR1 in pituitary and gastroenteropancreatic tumor, renal, colorectal and breast cancer, meningioma, glioma neuroblastoma, and pheochromocytoma.
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