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The orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR55 promotes cancer cell proliferation via ERK

Oncogene volume 30, pages 245–252 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

GPR55 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that may be engaged by some lipid ligands such as lysophosphatidylinositol and cannabinoid-type compounds. Very little is known about its expression pattern and physio-pathological relevance, and its pharmacology and signaling are still rather controversial. Here we analyzed the expression and function of GPR55 in cancer cells. Our data show that GPR55 expression in human tumors from different origins correlates with their aggressiveness. Moreover, GPR55 promotes cancer cell proliferation, both in cell cultures and in xenografted mice, through the overactivation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade. These findings reveal the importance of GPR55 in human cancer, and suggest that it could constitute a new biomarker and therapeutic target in oncology.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the members of our laboratory for technical support and critical discussions on this work. CA and MMC were recipients of fellowships from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and from Fundación Ferrer para la Investigación, respectively. MS and ML were recipients of contracts (Research Formation and Postdoctoral, respectively) from Comunidad de Madrid. This work was supported by grants from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (C Sánchez), Fundación Mutua Madrileña (C Sánchez), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (G Velasco and M Guzmán), Comunidad de Madrid (M Guzmán) and GW Pharmaceuticals/Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (C Sánchez).

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  1. M M Caffarel

    Present address: 2Current address: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK.,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain

    C Andradas, M M Caffarel, E Pérez-Gómez, M Salazar, M Lorente, G Velasco, M Guzmán & C Sánchez

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  1. C Andradas
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Correspondence to C Sánchez.

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Andradas, C., Caffarel, M., Pérez-Gómez, E. et al. The orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR55 promotes cancer cell proliferation via ERK. Oncogene 30, 245–252 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2010.402

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