The accumulation of radioactive somatostatin analog [111In]pentetreotide in non-small cell lung cancer (non-SCLC) during scintigraphy of patients provides a rationale for investigating the efficacy of somatostatin receptor-based chemotherapy in non-SCLC. Consequently, in this study, we evaluated the antitumor effects of cytotoxic somatostatin analog AN-238 on H838 human non-SCLC xenografted into nude mice in comparison with its cytotoxic radical, 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201). The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for human somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 (hsst2) and 5 (hsst5) in H838 cells, and tumors was also investigated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Somatostatin receptors on H838 tumors were characterized by ligand competition assay using radiolabeled somatostatin analog, RC-160. Three i.v. injections of AN-238 at 150 nmol/kg, given on days 1, 7 and 21, resulted in a significant (p<0.05) tumor growth inhibition, the final tumor volume being 60% smaller than in the controls. The tumor doubling time was also extended significantly (p<0.05) from 9.65+/-0.56 days in the controls to 17.52+/-3.3 days. Only one of 8 mice died due to toxicity. In contrast, cytotoxic radical AN-201 was ineffective and more toxic, killing 2 of 7 animals. mRNA for hsst2 was found in H838 xenografts, but not in H838 cells from which the xenografts originated. Interestingly, H838 cells grown in a special, serum-free medium did express mRNA for hsst2. mRNA for hsst5 was not found in any samples tested. Binding studies demonstrated the presence of high affinity (K(d) = 7.3+/-1.2 nM) binding sites for RC-160 with a mean maximal binding capacity (B(max)) of 953.3+/-45.3 fmol/mg protein. AN-238 at 3.14+/-0.93 nM concentration displaced 50% of radiolabeled RC-160 binding to somatostatin receptors in H838 tumors. Our results indicate that patients with inoperable non-SCLC may benefit from chemotherapy targeted to somatostatin receptors based on AN-238.