title: Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) and calcium signaling in cancer.
abstract: Proteinase activated receptors (PARs), a small subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors with four members, PAR₁, PAR₂, PAR₃ and PAR₄, are expressed in various tumours from epithelial origin and can play an important role in tumour progression and metastasis. Within the complex intracellular PAR signaling networks triggered by PARs, an elevation in intracellular free calcium ion concentrations represents a key second messenger system. In this review, we summarize current information about the mechanisms whereby PARs can signal via intracellular calcium in the setting of cancer and we discuss possibilities for using the PAR-[Ca(2+)](i) signaling pathway as a target for the therapy of epithelial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Transplantation Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany. roland.kaufmann@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Morley D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hollenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D044462:Receptors, Proteinase-Activated / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D044462:Receptors, Proteinase-Activated