Early-stage identification of cancer is a high priority in research.5,6 Therefore, the development of methods for the detection of cancer biomarkers in living systems has attracted tremendous interest.7–9 Studies have shown that dopamine receptor (D1R/D2R) expression is higher in NCI-H69 NSCLC cells.10 Previously, the expression of the dopamine (D1/D2) receptor in these cells has been monitored using an iodosulpride isotope probe11 which is subjected to biases caused by the incubation of isotope. Here, DRD1 is linked to cancer.