The substance P/NK-1 receptor system: NK-1 receptor antagonists as anti-cancer drugs.

Tumor cells overexpress NK-1 receptors, which are critical for their survival and proliferation. NK-1 receptor antagonists induce apoptosis in tumor cells, inhibit angiogenesis, and reduce tumor cell migration, making them promising targeted anti-cancer agents. Aprepitant, an NK-1 receptor antagonist already clinically approved for other uses, could be repurposed as an effective anti-tumor drug.

This is a review article summarizing existing research on the role of substance P, NK-1 receptors, and NK-1 receptor antagonists in cancer biology and treatment potential.

Targeting NK-1 receptors offers a new, potentially more specific approach to cancer treatment that may reduce side effects compared to conventional therapies. Repurposing existing drugs like aprepitant could accelerate development of novel cancer treatments.

As a review, the article does not present new experimental data and the clinical effectiveness of NK-1 receptor antagonists as cancer treatments requires further validation through clinical trials.