Voltage-gated sodium channels: new targets in cancer therapy?
Early detection and treatment of cancers have increased survival and improved clinical outcome. The development of metastases is often associated with a poor prognostic of survival. Finding early markers of metastasis and developing new therapies against their development is a great challenge. Since a few years, there is more evidence that ionic channels are involved in the oncogenic process. Among these, voltage-gated sodium channels expressed in non-nervous or non-muscular organs are often associated with the metastatic behaviour of different cancers. The aim of this review is to describe the current knowledge on the functional expression of voltage-gated sodium channels and their biological roles in different cancers such as prostate, breast, lung (small cells and non-small cells) and leukaemia. In the conclusion, we develop conceptual approaches to understand how such channels can be involved in the metastatic process and conclude that blockers targeted toward these channels are promising new therapeutic solutions against metastatic cancers.
Roger
Sébastien
S
Inserm, E 211, Nutrition Croissance Cancer, 37000 Tours, Tours, Cedex, France.
Potier
Marie
M
Vandier
Christophe
C
Besson
Pierre
P
Le Guennec
Jean-Yves
JY
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D015222:Sodium Channels