Neuromedin U: A Small Peptide in the Big World of Cancer

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2019 Sep 8

PMID 31492042

Citations 17

Authors

Patrycja Przygodzka

Kamila Soboska

Ewelina Sochacka

Joanna Boncela

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neuromedin U (NMU), a neuropeptide isolated from porcine spinal cord and named because of its activity as a rat uterus smooth muscle contraction inducer, is emerging as a new player in the tumorigenesis and/or metastasis of many types of cancers. Expressed in a variety of tissues, NMU has been shown to possess many important activities in the central nervous system as well as on the periphery. Along with the main structural and functional features of NMU and its currently known receptors, we summarized a growing number of recently published data from different tissues and cells that associate NMU activity with cancer development and progression. We ask if, based on current reports, NMU can be included as a marker of these processes and/or considered as a therapeutic target.

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Neuromedin U secreted by colorectal cancer cells promotes a tumour-supporting microenvironment.

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