GPR30 is overexpressed in post-puberal testicular germ cell tumors

• Published in: Cancer biology & therapy 2011-03, Vol.11 (6), p.609-613
• Main Authors: Franco, Renato, Boscia, Francesca, Gigantino, Vincenzo, Marra, Laura, Esposito, Francesco, Ferrara, Diana, Pariante, Paolo, Botti, Gerardo, Caraglia, Michele, Minucci, Sergio, Chieffi, Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Binding; Biology; Bioscience; Calcium; Cancer; Carcinoma, Embryonal - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Embryonal - metabolism; Carcinoma, Embryonal - pathology; Cell; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Cycle; Drug Design; Humans; Landes; Male; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal - drug therapy; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal - metabolism; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal - pathology; Organogenesis; Proteins; Receptors, Estrogen - analysis; Receptors, Estrogen - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Estrogen - biosynthesis; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - analysis; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - biosynthesis; Seminoma - drug therapy; Seminoma - metabolism; Seminoma - pathology; Teratoma - drug therapy; Teratoma - metabolism; Teratoma - pathology; Testicular Neoplasms - drug therapy; Testicular Neoplasms - metabolism; Testicular Neoplasms - pathology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1538-4047; 1555-8576
• DOI: 10.4161/cbt.11.6.14672

GPR30 is a 7-transmembrane G protein-coupled estrogen receptor that functions alongside traditional estrogen receptors to regulate cellular responses to 17β-estradiol and environmental estrogens. In this study, we have evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis GPR30 expression in post-puberal testicular germ cell tumours (30 seminomas, 5 teratomas, 12 embryonal carcinomas, and 20 intratubular germ cell tumors). The GPR30 protein expression was detected at high level in all intratubular germ cell tumours, seminomas, and embryonal carcinomas, whereas in teratomas the expression was low. The immunohistochemical data were further confirmed by Western blot analysis. GPR30 protein expression has also been analyzed in GC1 and TCam-2 cell lines, respectively derived from immortalized type B murine spermatogonia and human seminoma. Our results indicate that GPR30 could be a potential therapeutic target; the design of a specific GPR30 inhibitors could be a useful molecular target to block neoplastic germ cells with a high proliferative rate for the treatment of TGCTs. See commentary: Role of GPR30 in testicular germ cell tumors: A potential new anticancer target