Clinical relevance of ion channels for diagnosis and therapy of cancer.
Ion channels have a critical role in cell proliferation and it is well documented that channel blockers can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The concept of ion channels as therapeutic targets or prognostic biomarkers attracts increasing interest, but the lack of potent and selective channel modulators has hampered a critical verification for many years. Today, the knowledge of human ion channel genes is almost complete and molecular correlates for many native currents have already been identified. This information triggered a wave of experimental results, identifying individual ion channels with relevance for specific cancer types. The current pattern of cancer-related ion channels is not arbitrary, but can be reduced to few members from each ion channel family. This review aims to provide an overview of the molecularly identified ion channels that might be relevant for the most common human cancer types. Possible applications of these candidates for a targeted cancer therapy or for clinical diagnosis are discussed.
Schönherr
R
R
Research Unit Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, Medical Faculty of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer St. 1, Jena, D-07747, Germany. Roland.Schoenherr@uni-jena.de
D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels / Q000502:physiology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels