In their data, they showed a novel mechanism where the neuropeptide galanin (GAL) from nerves stimulates its G protein-coupled receptor, GALR2 on cancer cells to induce nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcinneurin-dependent-2 (NFATC2)-mediated transcription of pro-inflammatory mediators (such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)) and neuropeptides from tumor cells leading to invasion and tumor progression. Here, GAL is linked to cancer.