Somatostatin receptor imaging in nasopharyngeal cancer

Somatostatin is a neuropeptide better known for its role in inhibiting the secretion of growth hormone, insulin and glucagon. There are five subtypes of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) with varying tissue distribution and function. They have been reported to be expressed in the brain, pituitary gland, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, adrenal glands, immune cells and several human tumors. Recently there have been several reports of the presence of somatostatin receptor type 2 in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Somatostatin receptor imaging sheds new insight into the biology of NPC and opens up exciting and novel diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities in the management of NPC.