Eag1 channels as potential cancer biomarkers.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. New early tumor markers are needed to treat the disease at curable stages. In addition, new therapeutic targets are required to treat patients not responding to available treatments. Ion channels play major roles in health and disease, including cancer. Actually, several ion channels have been suggested as potential tumor markers and therapeutic targets for different types of malignancies. One of most studied ion channels in cancer is the voltage-gated potassium channel Eag1 (ether à go-go 1), which has a high potential to be used as a cancer biomarker. Eag1 is expressed in most human tumors, in contrast to its restricted distribution in healthy tissues. Several findings suggest Eag1 as a potential early marker for cervical, colon, and breast cancer. In addition, because Eag1 amplification/expression is associated with poor survival in leukemia, colon and ovarian cancer patients, it has also been proposed as a prognosis marker. Moreover, inhibition of either expression or activity of Eag1 leads to reduced proliferation of cancer cells, making Eag1 a potential anticancer target. Using Eag1 in cancer detection programs could help to reduce mortality from this disease.
Department of Pharmacology, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Avenida Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico. jarodrigu@cinvestav.mx
Jesús Adrián
JA
Rodríguez-Rasgado
Isabel
I
Acuña-Macías
Javier
J
Camacho
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C496884:KCNH1 protein, human