Bombesin/Gastrin Releasing Peptide (GRP)
Clinical Significance
Bombesin is a 14 amino acid peptide with strong Gastrin and gastric acid releasing properties. Bombesin also increases pancreatic enzyme output. Bombesin is found in high concentrations in the lung and has been proposed as a marker for oat-cell carcinoma. Bombesin hypersecretion has been associated with several physiological effects including anorexia, hypothermia, and hyperglycemia. It is also increased in small lung cell carcinoma and tumors of the APUD series. Bombesin infusion increases Neurotensin, Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide and Enteroglucagon levels, but has no effect on pancreatic Glucagon.
106
Reference Range
50–250 pg/mL
Procedure
Bombesin is measured by direct radioimmunoassay.
Patient Preparation
The patient should fast for 10 to 12 hours prior to collection of specimen. Antacid
medications and medications that affect intestinal motility should be discontinued, if
possible, for at least 48 hours prior to collection of specimen.
Specimen Requirements
Collect 10 mL EDTA plasma in a special tube containing the GI Preservative and
separate as soon as possible. Freeze plasma immediately after separation. Special GI
Preservative tubes are available from ISI. Minimum specimen size is 1 mL.
Important Precaution
Bombesin specimens must be collected using the GI Preservative tube. No other
specimens are acceptable.
Special Specimens
For tumor/tissue and various fluids (e.g., CSF, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid), contact
ISI for requirements and special handling instructions.
Shipping Instructions
Specimens should be shipped frozen in dry ice.
References
1. Mahmoud S, Palaszynski E, Fiskum G, et al. Small cell lung cancer bombesin receptors are antagonized by reduced peptide
analogues. Life Sci. 44(5):367-73, 1989.
2. Tache Y, Gunion M. Central nervous system action of bombesin to inhibit gastrin acid secretion. Life Sci. 15 Jul;37(2):115-23,
1985.
3. Yegen BC. Bombesin-like peptides: candidates as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Curr Pharm. Dec;9(12):1013-22, 2003.
4. Zhou J, Chen J, Mokotoff M, et al. Bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide receptor: a potential target for antibody-mediated
therapy of small cell lung cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 9(13):4953-60, 2003.
5. Mandragos C, Moukas M, Amygdalou A, et al. Gastrointestinal hormones and short-term nutritional schedules in critically ill
patients. Hepatogastroenterology. 50(53):1442-5, 2003.
6. Scott N, Millward E, Cartwright EJ, et al. Gastrin releasing peptide and gastrin releasing peptide receptor expression in
gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours. J Clin Pathol. 57(2):189-92, 2004.
CPT Code:
Unspecified
Quantitative
Immunoassay 83519
* Test available on a research basis only. Contact ISI for details.
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