Epidermal growth factor, latrophilin, and seven transmembrane domain-containing protein 1 marker, a novel angiogenesis marker

Epidermal growth factor, latrophilin, and seven transmembrane domain-containing protein 1 on chromosome 1 (ELTD1), an orphan adhesion G-protein coupled receptor, was reported as a regulator of angiogenesis, also involved in cancer progression and development. More recently, ELTD1 was identified as a potential new tumor marker for high-grade glioma. ELTD1, belongs to the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily that comprises the biggest receptor family in the human genome. Following the discovery of ELTD1 almost a decade ago, only a few research groups have attempted to find its role in normal and tumor cells, important information about this receptor remaining still unknown. The ELTD1 ligand has not currently been identified and intracellular signaling studies have not yet been performed in normal or tumor cells. Although the current published data on ELTD1 function and structure are rather limited, this receptor seems to be very important, not only as biomarker, but also as molecular target in glioblastoma. This review summarizes and discusses the current knowledge on ELTD1 structure, function, and its role in both physiological and tumoral angiogenesis.