Various attempts to detect human pituitary growth hormonereleasing hormone receptor (pGHRH-R) in neoplastic extrapituitary tissues have thus far failed. Recently, four splice variants (SVs) of GHRH-R have been described, of which SV1 has the highest structural homology to pGHRH-R and likely plays a role in tumor growth. The aim of this study was to reinvestigate whether human tumors and normal human extrapituitary tissues express the pGHRH-R and to corroborate our previous findings on its SVs. Thus, we developed a real-time PCR method for the detection of the mRNA for the pGHRH-R, its SVs, and the GHRH peptide. Using real-time PCR, Western blotting, and radioligand-binding assays, we detected the mRNA for pGHRH-R and pGHRH-R protein in various human cancer cell lines grown in nude mice and in surgical specimens of human lung cancers. The expression of mRNA for SVs of pGHRH-R and GHRH was likewise found in xenografts of human non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, smallcell lung carcinomas, and in human nonmalignant prostate, liver, lung, kidney, and pituitary. Western blots showed that these normal and malignant human tissues contain SV1 protein and immunoreactive GHRH. Our results demonstrate that some normal human tissues and tumors express mRNA and protein for the pGHRH-R and its splice variants. These findings confirm and extend the concept that GHRH and its receptors play an important role in the pathophysiology of human cancers.

Antagonists of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (hGHRH) with increased potency and improved enzymatic and chemical stability are needed for potential clinical applications. We synthesized 21 antagonistic analogs of hGHRH(1-29)NH2, substituted at positions 8, 9, and 10 of the common core sequence {phenylacetyl-Tyr 1 , D-Arg 2,28 , para-chloro-phenylalanine 6, Arg 9 ͞homoarginine 9, Tyr 10 ͞O-methyl-

Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) inhibit the growth of various human cancers by multiple mechanisms, which include direct effects on tumor cells through the splice variants (SV) of the GHRH receptor. Our findings suggest that the tumoral protein encoded by SV 1 (SV 1) is a likely functional receptor. The aim of this study was to develop a polyclonal antiserum against a polypeptide analog of segment 1-25 of the putative SV 1 receptor protein. Rabbits were immunized with [Ala-23]SV 1 (1-25)-Tyr-26-Cys-27-NH2 as a hapten, conjugated to BSA or keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The antisera thus generated were evaluated by RIA for binding to the radiolabeled hapten. The specificity and sensitivity of the antisera were studied on xenografts of RL and HT human non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The sera raised against keyhole limpet hemocyanin-SV 1 hapten, showed binding values of 50 -75% at a 1:56,000 dilution. In Western blot analyses, the purified polyclonal antibody recognized a specific signal with a molecular mass of Ϸ40 kDa in RL and HT lymphomas. This band corresponds to the estimated molecular mass of the GHRH receptor isoform encoded by SV 1. RT-PCR and ligand binding studies also revealed the expression of SV 1 and the presence of high-affinity binding sites for GHRH on RL and HT tumors. Because the antiserum developed recognizes the tumoral GHRH receptor protein encoded by SV 1, it should be of value in various investigations.splice variant ͉ growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor ͉ polyclonal antibody ͉ non-Hodgkin's lymphoma A ntagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) inhibit the growth of experimental human cancer cell lines xenografted into nude mice or cultured in vitro and are being developed for cancer therapy (1-4). To design still more potent antagonists, we have to fully understand their mechanism of action. GHRH antagonists suppress tumor growth through indirect and direct pathways. The indirect mechanism operates through a suppression of the growth hormone release from the pituitary and the resulting inhibition of the production of insulin-like growth factor I in the liver (1-11). However, the principal action of GHRH antagonists is probably exerted directly on tumors and appears to be mediated by specific receptors for GHRH antagonists on cancer cells (1-9, 11-13). Although the mRNA for GHRH and immunologically active GHRH were demonstrated in various human tumor cells, the mRNA for human pituitary GHRH receptor (GHRH-R) has not been detected on these tumor cells or any of the other cancer models (11,14,15).Because of the structural similarities between GHRH and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), the receptors for VIP could be a target for the GHRH antagonists, but GHRH antagonists inhibit the proliferation of MiaPaCa-2 human pancreatic tumor cells, which do not express the receptors for VIP (13). Moreover, in LNCaP human prostatic carcinoma cells, which are positive for the VIP receptors, GHRH antagonists inhibit tumor growth more powerfully than the antagonists of VIP (1...

Our previous studies showed that treatment of female rats with large doses of Cetrorelix, an antagonist of luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone (LHRH), reduces levels of serum LH, estradiol, progesterone, and the concentration of pituitary LHRH receptors (LHRH-Rs) and their mRNA expression. Serum LH and testosterone levels and pituitary LHRH-R in male rats are also decreased by high doses of Cetrorelix. This approach can be used for therapy of sex hormone-dependent cancers. However, in conditions where an incomplete hormone deprivation is indicated, lower doses of Cetrorelix may suffice. Thus, we investigated the effect of a 30-day treatment with a low-dose depot formulation of Cetrorelix (20 -24 g per kg per day) on the pituitary-gonadal axis of male and female rats. In both sexes, lower serum LH levels were observed on day 4 after administration. In males, LH returned to control levels by day 10, whereas in females, a rebound LH elevation occurred. Testosterone levels in male rats were decreased up to day 20, but on day 30, the values were similar to controls. In females, serum estradiol was reduced on day 4; however, by day 10 it returned to normal. Progesterone levels were diminished through the entire period. Female rats showed diestrous smears during the first week of treatment and prolonged estrous periods thereafter. The weights of testes and ovaries were significantly lower, but not the weights of prostate, seminal vesicles, and uterus. Pituitary LHRH-R mRNA and LHRH-R protein levels were not significantly different from the controls. Thus, the treatment with low doses of Cetrorelix did not seriously impair gonadal functions. The results suggest that Cetrorelix in low doses induces only a partial pituitary-gonadal inhibition and might be indicated for treatment of endometriosis, leiomyomas, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog ͉ luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptor L uteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing hormone (LHRH) exerts its effect on pituitary gonadotropes through the high-affinity G protein-coupled LHRH receptors (LHRH-Rs) and stimulates the release of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone, which in turn regulate reproductive functions and sex steroid secretion (1-7). The responses to LHRH vary under different conditions and depend on the mode of application and the doses delivered to gonadotrope cells. Prolonged exposure to high doses of LHRH or its agonists leads to an inhibition of pituitary responses and the suppression of serum LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, and sex steroid levels (8-10). This effect is the result of the downregulation of pituitary LHRH-Rs and inhibition of LHRH-R gene expression by mechanisms that have not been fully elucidated (11,12). Chronic administration of LHRH agonists can produce reversible medical castration and is used clinically for treatment of sex hormone-dependent cancers and various gynecologic conditions (2,6,7,10).However, in clinical situations, in which an immediate suppression of gonadotropins is desired, L...

Antagonists of GHRH are being developed for the treatment of various cancers. In this study we investigated in vivo and in vitro the effects of the GHRH antagonist MZ-J-7-118 and its mechanism of action in HEC-1A human endometrial cancer. Treatment of nude mice bearing HEC-1A xenografts with 10 mug/d MZ-J-7-118 for 6 wk significantly inhibited the volume of HEC-1A tumors by 43%, tumor weight by 40% compared with controls and prolonged the tumor doubling time from 18.7 +/- 1.4 to 25.4 +/- 3.8 d. Administration of 20 mug MZ-J-7-118, sc, twice a day significantly (P < 0.05) decreased HEC-1A growth, as evidenced by a 57.9% decrease in tumor volume, a 50.7% reduction in tumor weight, and the extension of tumor doubling time from 17.5 +/- 2.8 to 36.4 +/- 6.5 d. Therapy with GHRH antagonists significantly decreased serum IGF-I levels in experiment 1, and significantly increased tumoral IGF-I levels in experiment 2 in treated mice. Levels of IGF-II and vascular endothelial growth factor-A in tumors were not changed. Specific high affinity binding sites for GHRH were found on HEC-1A tumor membranes using ligand competition assays with (125)I-labeled GHRH antagonist JV-1-42. MZ-J-7-118 displaced radiolabeled JV-1-42 with an IC(50) of 0.13 +/- 0.04 nm. The expression of mRNA for GHRH and splice variants of the GHRH receptor in HEC-1A tumors was demonstrated by real-time RT-PCR analysis. HEC-1A cells cultured in vitro secreted GHRH into the medium. The GHRH antagonist MZ-J-7-118 inhibited the growth of HEC-1A cells in vitro. Our results indicate that GHRH antagonists can reduce the growth of human endometrial cancer and could be used as an alternative adjuvant therapy for the management of endometrial cancer.