Somatostatin Receptor 2 Overexpression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications for Cancer Biology and Theranostic Applications

Abstract

(1) BackgroundSomatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is overexpressed in various tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet its role in tumorigenesis remains unclear. This study examines the roles of SSTR2 in the molecular pathology of HCC and explores its potential as a target for SSTR2-directed radiopharmaceuticals in this malignancy. (2) MethodsSSTR2 expression was analyzed across 22 malignancies using TNMplot and specifically in HCC through The Human Protein Atlas. Transcriptomic data, protein expression, and copy number alterations in HCC patients with varying SSTR2 levels were compared using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed using SRplot, while survival analysis was conducted with GEO datasets. (3) ResultsMost HCC patients exhibit moderate levels of SSTR2 expression. Elevated SSTR2 expression is associated with worse overall and disease-specific survival, as well as the activation of pathways involved in tumor growth and metastasis. Furthermore, SSTR2 expression is linked to key oncogenes and receptor tyrosine kinases. (4) ConclusionsSSTR2 in HCC signifies an oncogenic network and represents a promising therapeutic target to inhibit tumor invasion and serve as a theranostic biomarker. HCC patients with elevated SSTR2 expression could benefit from SSTR2-targeted theranostics, enabling enhanced tumor detection and more effective therapy.