Somatostatin (SST) plays an important regulatory role in the physiological control of various organs including the prostate. Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and SST analogs are potential targets for prostate cancer treatment, especially since it has been shown that SST analogues are clinically effective in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The presence of SST containing neuroendocrine (NE) cells in the epithelium of the human prostate and their suggested role in the paracrine regulation of this gland prompted us to study the potential expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) in human prostatic tissue and prostate cancer cell lines. Using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found the SSTR subtypes 1-3 in stromal cells and in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC-3 and DU 145. Immunohistochemical analysis of 27 radical prostatectomy specimens demonstrated the presence of hSSTR1 in a subpopulation of cancerous and NE cells, whereas hSSTR2 was found in the stroma, peritumoral blood vessels and tumor cells. Receptor subtype 3 was demonstrated to be present on the cell membrane of BPH and malignant areas. A strong immunoreaction (IR) of hSSTR4 was found in tumor cells, as compared with a less intense IR in adjacent BPH areas. Somatostatin receptor subtype 5 was not detectable. Western blot analysis revealed immunoreactive bands of molecular weight between 44-60 kDa. In summary, the present study clearly demonstrates the presence of hSSTR1-3 in tumoral and nontumoral epithelial cells as well as in the stromal compartment, whereas hSSTR4 was found to be confined to epithelial cells, and SSTR5 was not detectable.