Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Detection of G Protein-coupled Receptor Expression in Mouse Vagal Afferent Neurons using Multiplex In Situ Hybridization
08:16

Detection of G Protein-coupled Receptor Expression in Mouse Vagal Afferent Neurons using Multiplex In Situ Hybridization

Published on: September 20, 2021

GPR87 is an overexpressed G-protein coupled receptor in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Mathias Gugger1, Richard White, Susan Song

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

Disease Markers
|December 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified novel molecular targets for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Five G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) were significantly overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma, with GPR87 showing the most promise for future lung cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, with a low 5-year survival rate, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic strategies.
  • G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of cell surface receptors, are crucial for cellular communication and represent promising targets for cancer diagnostics and treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel molecular targets for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) by examining the expression of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs).
  • To investigate differential GPCR expression in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma subtypes of NSCLC.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized laser capture microdissection to isolate tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples from NSCLC patients.
  • Employed GPCR-focused Affymetrix microarrays to analyze the expression of 929 GPCR transcripts.
  • Calculated relative gene expression levels by comparing tumor tissue to neighboring alveolar tissue within each patient.

Main Results:

  • Identified five significantly overexpressed GPCRs in squamous cell carcinoma compared to normal lung tissue: GPR87, CMKOR1, FZD10, LGR4, and P2RY11.
  • GPR87 demonstrated the highest level of overexpression and showed a correlation with squamous cell carcinoma on a mutation-based level.
  • The identified GPCRs belong to non-olfactory families (GRAFS classification), including orphan receptors like GPR87, LGR4, and CMKOR1.

Conclusions:

  • GPR87 is a highly promising candidate for further investigation and validation as a therapeutic target in squamous cell carcinoma.
  • This study provides a foundation for developing targeted therapies for NSCLC by identifying novel GPCRs involved in tumor development.

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