Calcium and cancer: targeting Ca2+ transport.
Ca2+ is a ubiquitous cellular signal. Altered expression of specific Ca2+ channels and pumps are characterizing features of some cancers. The ability of Ca2+ to regulate both cell death and proliferation, combined with the potential for pharmacological modulation, offers the opportunity for a set of new drug targets in cancer. However, the ubiquity of the Ca2+ signal is often mistakenly presumed to thwart the specific therapeutic targeting of proteins that transport Ca2+. This Review presents evidence to the contrary and addresses the question: which Ca2+ channels and pumps should be targeted?
Monteith
Gregory R
GR
School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4072. greg@pharmacy.uq.edu.au
McAndrew
Damara
D
Faddy
Helen M
HM
Roberts-Thomson
Sarah J
SJ
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001692:Biological Transport; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019098:Telomerase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D019098:Telomerase; D002118:Calcium