Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide binds with high affinity to non-small cell lung cancer cells and elevates cyclic AMP levels.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptors were characterized on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. 125I-VIP bound specifically to membranes derived from 6 NSCLC cell lines. Specific 125I-VIP was time dependent and a linear function of EPLC-65H membrane concentration. 125I-VIP bound with high (Kd = 0.2 nM) and moderate (Kd = 39 nM) affinity to two classes of sites. Pharmacology studies indicated that the order of peptide potency was VIP greater than rGHRH greater than PHI = helodermin greater than secretin greater than glucagon. Also VIP elevated the cAMP levels 10-fold using cell line ADLC-5M2. These data indicate that functional VIP receptors are present on NSCLC cells.