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Review
. 2020 Apr 26;18(1):68.
doi: 10.1186/s12964-020-00569-y.

The role of Neurotensin and its receptors in non-gastrointestinal cancers: a review

Stella Nikolaou  1   2   3 , Shengyang Qiu  1   3 , Francesca Fiorentino  3 , Constantinos Simillis  1 , Shahnawaz Rasheed  1   2   3 , Paris Tekkis  1   2   3 , Christos Kontovounisios  4   5   6
Affiliations
Review

The role of Neurotensin and its receptors in non-gastrointestinal cancers: a review

Stella Nikolaou et al. Cell Commun Signal. .

Abstract

Background: Neurotensin, originally isolated in 1973 has both endocrine and neuromodulator activity and acts through its three main receptors. Their role in promoting tumour cell proliferation, migration, DNA synthesis has been studied in a wide range of cancers. Expression of Neurotensin and its receptors has also been correlated to prognosis and prediction to treatment.

Main body: The effects of NT are mediated through mitogen-activated protein kinases, epidermal growth factor receptors and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases amongst others. This review is a comprehensive summary of the molecular pathways by which Neurotensin and its receptors act in cancer cells.

Conclusion: Identifying the role of Neurotensin in the underlying molecular mechanisms in various cancers can give way to developing new agnostic drugs and personalizing treatment according to the genomic structure of various cancers. Video abstract.

Keywords: Cancer; Neurotensin; Neurotensin receptors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Role of NTSR1 and NTSR3 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). ERK: extracellular signal-regulated kinases. HSP27: heat shock protein 27. IL-8: interleukin 8. MKK: MAPK kinase kinase. NT: neurotensin. NTSR: Neurotensin receptor. PIP2: Phosphatidyl inositol diphosphate. PIP3: Phosphatidyl inositol triphosphate. VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Summary of the role of NT/NTSR1 in non-gastrointestinal cancers. formula image Role of NT/NTSR1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. formula image Role of NT/NTSR1 in prostate cancer. formula image Role of NT/NTSR1 in non small cell lung cancer. formula image Role of NT/NTSR1 in breast cancer. formula image Role of NT/NTSR1 in glioma. formula image Role of NT/NTSR1 in glioblastoma multiforme. DAG: diacylglycerol. EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor. ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases. HER: Human epidermal growth factor receptor. HSP27: Heat shock protein 27. IP3: Inositol triphosphate. PKC: Protein kinase C. MAPK: Mitogen activated protein kinase
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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