Pentagastrin
GI / DiagnosticAlso known as: Peptavlon, Boc-β-Ala-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2
Gastrin AnalogsResearch phase: Clinical (diagnostic)Regulatory: Approved as diagnostic agent in multiple countries. Availability varies by region.
Mechanism
Pentagastrin is a synthetic five-amino-acid fragment of gastrin used as a diagnostic agent to test stomach acid secretion. It is also used to provoke calcitonin release for medullary thyroid cancer screening.
Technical detail
Pentagastrin is a synthetic pentapeptide containing the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin (Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2) with a Boc-β-Ala extension. It stimulates gastric acid secretion via CCK-B/gastrin receptors on parietal cells. Clinically used in gastric acid secretion testing and as a provocative test for calcitonin secretion in medullary thyroid carcinoma screening.