Somatostatin receptors in human colorectal cancer.

We have previously reported that somatostatin may reduce tumour cellular proliferation in patients with colorectal carcinoma. However, it is not known what proportion of primary colorectal cancers express somatostatin receptors. We have therefore evaluated somatostatin receptor status in 50 primary colorectal cancers. Twelve (24%) of the cancers were shown to be somatostatin receptor positive. There was no correlation between receptor status and tumour stage or grade.