The undecapeptide substance P (SP) after binding to the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), regulates cancer cell proliferation, exerts an antiapoptotic effect, induces cell migration for invasion/metastasis, and triggers endothelial cell proliferation for neoangiogenesis.
NK1R was upregulated in ESCC, and its overexpression correlated with larger tumour size, deeper tumour invasion, more perineural invasion and eventually caused poorer overall survival (OS).
SP induces cancer cell proliferation and invasion as well as the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in pancreatic cancer cells, and NK-1R antagonists inhibit these effects.
After binding to the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor, SP regulates biological functions related to cancer: tumor cell proliferation (favoring tumor growth), angiogenesis, and migration of the tumor cells for invasion and metastasis.SP also exerts an antiapoptotic effect.