title: G protein-coupled receptors as promising cancer targets.
abstract: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate an array of fundamental biological processes, such as growth, metabolism and homeostasis. Specifically, GPCRs are involved in cancer initiation and progression. However, compared with the involvement of the epidermal growth factor receptor in cancer, that of GPCRs have been largely ignored. Recent findings have implicated many GPCRs in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, invasion and metastasis. Moreover, GPCRs contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a microenvironment which is permissive for tumor formation and growth, including effects upon surrounding blood vessels, signaling molecules and the extracellular matrix. Thus, GPCRs are considered to be among the most useful drug targets against many solid cancers. Development of selective ligands targeting GPCRs may provide novel and effective treatment strategies against cancer and some anticancer compounds are now in clinical trials. Here, we focus on tumor related GPCRs, such as G protein-coupled receptor 30, the lysophosphatidic acid receptor, angiotensin receptors 1 and 2, the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors and gastrin releasing peptide receptor. We also summarize their tissue distributions, activation and roles in tumorigenesis and discuss the potential use of GPCR agonists and antagonists in cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xi
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Kidney Cancer Research, Diagnosis and Translational Technology Center of Yunnan Province, Department of Urology, The People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China. Electronic address: lw13908701155@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China. Electronic address: xtrgfq@homail.com.
authors.forename: Tian-Rui
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
keywords: Activation; Cancer; GPCR; GPR30; Mutation