Intractable Rare Dis Res. 2021;10(4):292-293. (DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2021.01103)

GPR30: A new potential therapeutic target in human testicular germ cell tumors

Chieffi P

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30) is suggested to exert a role in non-nuclear estrogen signalling and is over-expressed in a variety of hormone dependent tumors. It is well known that estrogens and xenoestrogens are involved in testicular germ cell tumorigenesis. Different studies show that down regulation of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) associates with GPR30 overexpression both in human testicular carcinoma in situ (CIS) and seminomas and that the mitogenic role exerted by 17β-oestradiol induces the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) through GPR30. In conclusion, the exposure to oestrogens or oestrogen-mimics, in some as of yet undefined manner, diminishes the ERβ-mediated growth restraint in CIS and in human testicular seminoma, indicating that GPR30 could be considered a potential therapeutic target to design specific inhibitors.

Full Text: