The human gonadotropin-releasing hormone (hGnRH) is a key hormone in the regulation of reproduction. However, an increasing number of reports have been shown the participation of GnRH and its receptor, not only in reproduction but also in the regulation of tumor cells behavior. Most interesting is the finding that this hormone/receptor system is present not only in reproductive tissue but also in tumor cells with various degrees of expression and in some cases the expression of hGnRHR is related to cancer progression.
The GnRH has been effective in controlling cell growth and invasiveness in certain type of tumors, both in vivo and in vitro. This system activates different signal transduction pathways in gonadotrope and tumor cells, coupling to different G-proteins depending on the cell context. In endometrial cancer, for instance, both GnRH agonists and antagonists have the same dose-dependent anti-proliferative effect, contrary of the effect observed in the pituitary. Furthermore, the presence of this GnRH system has been detected in non-reproductive tumors such as glioblastoma, melanoma, pancreas, liver and lung.
The present proposal aims to emphasize the importance of the GnRH not only as a key reproductive regulator but also an important player in cancer regulation.
The human gonadotropin-releasing hormone (hGnRH) is a key hormone in the regulation of reproduction. However, an increasing number of reports have been shown the participation of GnRH and its receptor, not only in reproduction but also in the regulation of tumor cells behavior. Most interesting is the finding that this hormone/receptor system is present not only in reproductive tissue but also in tumor cells with various degrees of expression and in some cases the expression of hGnRHR is related to cancer progression.
The GnRH has been effective in controlling cell growth and invasiveness in certain type of tumors, both in vivo and in vitro. This system activates different signal transduction pathways in gonadotrope and tumor cells, coupling to different G-proteins depending on the cell context. In endometrial cancer, for instance, both GnRH agonists and antagonists have the same dose-dependent anti-proliferative effect, contrary of the effect observed in the pituitary. Furthermore, the presence of this GnRH system has been detected in non-reproductive tumors such as glioblastoma, melanoma, pancreas, liver and lung.
The present proposal aims to emphasize the importance of the GnRH not only as a key reproductive regulator but also an important player in cancer regulation.