In a selected panel of tumour cell lines (SCLC, non-SCLC, ovarian, colorectal and pancreatic), the expression of the mitogenic neuropeptide receptors for vasopressin, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), bradykinin and gastrin was examined, and their sensitivity to SP-G tested in vitro and in vivo. This evidence concerns the gene GRP and small cell lung carcinoma.