Galanin and galanin receptors in human cancers.
The increasing interest in peptides and peptide receptors in cancer is based on the possibility of receptor targeting, because peptide receptors are often expressed in different human tumors. The neuropeptide galanin has also been suggested to be involved in the development of neuroendocrine tumors based on the development of estrogen-induced tumors in estrogen-sensitive rats. This study summarizes our current knowledge on the expression of galanin peptide and galanin receptors in different human neuroendocrine tumors. The expression of both, peptide and corresponding receptor, seems to be a common feature of human gliomas, pheochromocytomas, pituitary and neuroblastic tumors. The co-expression of galanin and its receptors supports a role for galanin in tumor cell pathology via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms.
Berger
Alexandra
A
Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Muellner-Hauptstrasse 48, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Santic
Radmila
R
Hauser-Kronberger
Cornelia
C
Schilling
Freimut H
FH
Kogner
Per
P
Ratschek
Manfred
M
Gamper
Agnes
A
Jones
Neil
N
Sperl
Wolfgang
W
Kofler
Barbara
B
D019004:Galanin / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D044088:Receptors, Galanin / Q000502:physiology*
D044088:Receptors, Galanin; D019004:Galanin