Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the term for a group of cancers affecting the digestive system. After binding to the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor, the undecapeptide substance P (SP) regulates GI cancer cell proliferation and migration for invasion and metastasis, and controls endothelial cell proliferation for angiogenesis. SP also exerts an antiapoptotic effect. Both SP and the NK-1 receptor are located in GI tumor cells, the NK-1 receptor being overexpressed. By contrast, after binding to the NK-1 receptor, NK-1 receptor antagonists elicit the inhibition (epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition) of the proliferation of GI cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, induce the death of GI cancer cells by apoptosis, counteract the Warburg effect, inhibit cancer cell migration (counteracting invasion and metastasis), and inhibit angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition). NK-1 receptor antagonists are safe and well tolerated. Thus, the NK-1 receptor could be considered as a new target in GI cancer and NK-1 receptor antagonists (eg, aprepitant) could be a new promising approach for the treatment of GI cancer.

Details

Title
Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists as antitumor drugs in gastrointestinal cancer: A new approach
Author
Muñoz, Miguel; Coveñas, Rafael
Publication year
2016
Publication date
Jul/Aug 2016
Publisher
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd.
ISSN
13193767
e-ISSN
19984049
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1837346866
Copyright
Copyright Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd Jul-Aug 2016