title: The NK-1 Receptor Antagonist L-732,138 Induces Apoptosis and Counteracts Substance P-Related Mitogenesis in Human Melanoma Cell Lines.
abstract: It has been recently demonstrated that substance P (SP) and neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists induce cell proliferation and cell inhibition in human melanoma cells, respectively. However, the antitumor action of the NK-1 receptor antagonist L-732,138 on such cells is unknown. The aim of this study was to demonstrate an antitumor action of L-732,138 against three human melanoma cell lines (COLO 858, MEL HO, COLO 679). We found that L-732,138 elicits cell growth inhibition in a concentration dependent manner in the melanoma cells studied. Moreover, L-732,138 blocks SP mitogen stimulation. The specific antitumor action of L-732,138 occurred through the NK-1 receptor and melanoma cell death was by apoptosis. These findings indicate that the NK-1 receptor antagonist L-732,138 could be a new antitumor agent in the treatment of human melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory on Neuropeptides, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Sevilla, Spain. mmunoz@cica.es.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Ortega
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coveñas