Neuropeptide Y in neural crest-derived tumors: effect on growth and vascularization.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a sympathetic neurotransmitter recently found to be a potent growth and angiogenic factor. The peptide and its receptors are abundant in neural crest-derived tumors, such as sympathetic neuroblastomas and pheochromocytomas, as well as parasympathetic Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors. NPY regulates their growth directly, by an autocrine activation of tumor cell proliferation or apoptosis, and indirectly, by its angiogenic activity. The overall effect of the peptide on tumor growth depends on a balance between these processes and the type of receptors expressed in the tumor cells. Thus, NPY and its receptors may become targets for the treatment of neural tumors, directed against both tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis.
Kitlinska
Joanna
J
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown Universitty Medical Center, Basic Science Building Rm. 234, Washington, DC 20057. jbk4@georgetown.edu
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009380:Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D009478:Neuropeptide Y