title: The roles of K(+) channels in cancer.
abstract: Potassium channels are transmembrane proteins that selectively facilitate the flow of potassium ions down an electrochemical gradient. These molecules have been studied in great detail in the context of cell excitability, but their roles in less cell type-specific functions, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis or cell migration, have only recently been assessed. Moreover, the importance of these channels for tumour biology has become evident. This, coupled with the fact that they are accessible proteins and that their pharmacology is well characterized, has increased the interest in investigating potassium channels as therapeutic targets in cancer patients.
authors: Oncophysiology Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Strasse 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Pardo
authors: Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Strasse 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Stühmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048429:Cell Size; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C496884:KCNH1 protein, human