title: Involvement of potassium channels in the progression of cancer to a more malignant phenotype.
abstract: Potassium channels are a diverse group of pore-forming transmembrane proteins that selectively facilitate potassium flow through an electrochemical gradient. They participate in the control of the membrane potential and cell excitability in addition to different cell functions such as cell volume regulation, proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis as well as apoptosis. Because these physiological processes are essential for the correct cell function, K+ channels have been associated with a growing number of diseases including cancer. In fact, different K+ channel families such as the voltage-gated K+ channels, the ether à-go-go K+ channels, the two pore domain K+ channels and the Ca2+-activated K+ channels have been associated to tumor biology. Potassium channels have a role in neoplastic cell-cycle progression and their expression has been found abnormal in many types of tumors and cancer cells. In addition, the expression and activity of specific K+ channels have shown a significant correlation with the tumor malignancy grade. The aim of this overview is to summarize published data on K+ channels that exhibit oncogenic properties and have been linked to a more malignant cancer phenotype. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane channels and transporters in cancers.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Comes
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serrano-Albarrás
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesusa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capera
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serrano-Novillo
authors.affiliation: Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Condom
authors.affiliation: Departament de Anatomía Patològica, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramón Y Cajal
authors.affiliation: Departament de Anatomía Patològica, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan Carles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ferreres
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: afelipe@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felipe
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D010641:Phenotype; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Cancer; Metastasis; Potassium channel; Tumorigenesis