Neurotensin binds with high affinity to small cell lung cancer cells.

Several small cell lung cancer cell lines bound 125I-neurotensin with high affinity. Radiolabeled neurotensin bound with high affinity (Kd = 4 nM) to a single class of sites (2300/cell) using cell line NCI-H209. Binding was time dependent and reversible. Pharmacology studies indicated that the C-terminal of neurotensin was important for the high affinity binding activity. Because high concentrations of neurotensin and its receptors are associated with small cell lung cancer, neurotensin may function as a regulatory peptide in this disease.