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NPY receptors in human cancer: a review of current knowledge

Meike Körner1, Jean Claude Reubi

  • 1Division of Cell Biology and Experimental Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, PO Box 62, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland.

Peptides
|January 16, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors are over-expressed in several human cancers. Targeting these NPY receptors offers potential for novel cancer diagnostics and therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Peptide hormone receptors are frequently over-expressed in human cancers, presenting opportunities for in vivo tumor targeting.
  • Neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors represent a novel and promising class of targets for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and potential utility of NPY receptors (Y1 and Y2) in various human cancers.
  • To explore the pathophysiological role and clinical applications of tumoral NPY receptors.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro receptor autoradiography was employed to detect Y1 and Y2 receptor expression.
  • Analysis included breast carcinomas, adrenal gland tumors, renal cell carcinomas, and ovarian cancers.

Main Results:

  • Y1 and Y2 NPY receptors were found to be expressed in tumor cells and associated blood vessels of the studied cancers.
  • Tumoral NPY receptors may be activated by endogenous NPY, influencing tumor cell proliferation and blood supply.

Conclusions:

  • Over-expressed NPY receptors in tumors provide a basis for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting tumoral NPY receptors with NPY analogs could enable scintigraphic tumor imaging and therapeutic interventions.

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